Two advisers in the interim government, Md Nahid Islam and Mahfuj Alam, have emphasized that consensus-based institutional reforms could sow the seed for true and sustainable democracy in Bangladesh, ultimately safeguarding the country's democratic future.
They expressed this view in response to a question during the first session of the "Foreign Policy Dialogue" series, titled "Building a New Bangladesh – Reforms and Foreign Policy," held on Sunday at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Nahid Islam and Mahfuj Alam participated in the dialogue moderated by Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin, the foreign ministry said.
The event began with a minute’s silence to honour the martyrs of the July uprising, followed by the screening of a special short documentary on the events of the movement.
Praising the fearless roles of the young advisers, the foreign secretary said the youth have once again demonstrated their ability to lead at critical junctures in the country's history.
During the session, the foreign secretary discussed the interim government's reform initiatives and engaged in an interactive dialogue with the advisers, seeking their views on foreign policy, reforms, mass uprising and the future of Bangladesh.
A question-and-answer session followed, during which young officers from the ministry had the opportunity to ask the advisers candid questions and receive insights into the events that marked a new chapter in Bangladesh's history, the foreign ministry said.
In response to a question, both advisers agreed that for a robust foreign policy to position Bangladesh as a key actor in the international arena, support will be provided to initiatives that enable the Foreign Ministry to take the lead on foreign policy matters.
The two advisers were also presented with mementoes commemorating the July uprising.