Bangladesh needs to pursue prudent policy to protect economic interests

The world is becoming increasingly polarized due to the Russia-Ukraine war. The conflict has had a global effect, and Bangladesh is not immune. Against this backdrop, the government should pursue prudent policy which will ensure the wellbeing of 170 million Bangladeshis and the country's economic interests, speakers at a roundtable discussion have said.

Kazi Nabil Ahmed Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune

At the same time, based on principles, values and the UN Charter, Bangladesh should take position against aggression and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina can use her global influence to tell the Russians to end the war, they observed at the event, titled “Ukraine Crisis: The Foreign Policy Question for Bangladesh”, at a city hotel on Sunday. The program was organized by Dhaka Tribune with the support from the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Dhaka.

Reaz Ahmad Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune

Dhaka Tribune Executive Editor Reaz Ahmad moderated the roundtable, which was attended by diplomats, academia, journalists, and students.

Former foreign secretary Md Touhid Hossain, Member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs Kazi Nabil Ahmed and Dhaka University International Relations Department Professor Lailufar Yasmin spoke as panellists.

Tabith Awal Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune

Md Touhid said: “When it comes to the issue of territorial integrity and sovereignty, our support should be unequivocal.”

Bangladesh should take a stern position against any aggression and forcible change of map, he added.

 Shamsher M Chowdhury Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune

A strong country is changing the map of a weaker neighbour by force, and this is an issue for Bangladesh, he said, adding: “When the issue is such, I think the interest of Bangladesh should be to ensure that this does not happen. We are on very friendly terms with India and China, but that doesn't mean anything…things could change, the situation could have become different, and in such a situation our position on principle should have been the main thing.”

Md Touhid Hossain Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune

Lawmaker Kazi Nabil Ahmed said: “Bangladesh's future lies in a rule-based system and multilateral engagement. We need a peaceful world to prosper as a country. Bangladesh is not a small country… For the huge population we have, economic security is one of our top issues and it is being threatened due to higher energy and commodity prices.

Professor Lailufar Yasmin Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune

“Prime minister Sheikh Hasina has been trying to act consistently to make sure that Bangladesh's interests are safeguarded,” he said, adding: “We don't live in isolation. We are all socio-economic beings.”

The question for Bangladesh is how to make sure that it can protect its own economic well-being and continue to procure the energy and food grains it needs, he said.

Nahim Razzaq Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune

“The main question right now is how to make sure that the crisis does not get worse and everyone can safeguard their economic well-being,” Kazi Nabil added.

Lailufar Yasmin said Bangladesh has unique geo-political value and it is increasingly emerging as an agenda setter.

She said: “Often, Bangladesh is seen as an undervalued country. Bangladesh is not voiceless, but Bangladesh's voices are often not being heard.”

Dr Fahmida Khatun Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune

Bangladesh is part of a number of mini-multilateralism activities, she said, adding: “We have to learn to cooperate with a number of South Asian countries.”

There is a need to diversify Bangladesh's options so that the country is not compelled to take a side in any crisis, she added. “This foreign policy principle has helped Bangladesh and it will help Bangladesh, provided that we take calculated steps in future.”

Professor Sudeep Chakravarti Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune

Reaz Ahmad said: “There were at least five UN General Assembly resolutions on this issue. Bangladesh abstained from voting three times and voted two times in favour of Ukraine.”

Robert Chatterton Dickson British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune

Norwegian Ambassador Espen Rikter-Svendsen said: “The threat of Covid has diminished. The global structure we took for granted has been disrupted and the whole global trading system is in disarray. The core global values anchored in the UN Charter have been blatantly breached and the war serves absolutely no meaningful purpose.”

Forrest Crookson Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune

Former foreign secretary Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury said: “Bangladesh has always taken a position against aggression. In 1990, when Iraq invaded Kuwait, Bangladesh supported the global move to liberate the country and even sent troops there. It was based on values and these values should not change.”

Dr Mohammed Nurujjaman Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune

He said: “The Ukraine war has taken the global focus away from the Rohingya issue, and that is perhaps our biggest loss.”

British High Commissioner Robert Chatterton Dickson said: “I recognize that when other people in the region may have different views, it is not always easy to take this position. We very much welcome the two votes in favour at the UN General Assembly.”

 Espen Rikter Svendsen Norwegian Ambassador To Bangladesh Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune

The whole world wants to see an early end to the conflict and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina can use her global influence to highlight to the Russians the urgent need for them to end this catastrophic war that they have started, he said.

Parliament member Nahim Razzaq said: “We have voted in favour of sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Spanish Ambassador To Bangladesh Francisco De As S Ben Tez Salas Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune

“The way forward to the de-escalation of the situation in Ukraine is restraint and dialogue. We all are affected. The UK has officially gone into recession, the US is nearly on the verge of recession. The global economy has been disrupted.”

Umran Chowdhury Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka Tribune

Bangladesh wants peace through negotiation, but the bigger powers such as Europe and America need to take the lead to create a proper environment, he added.