Expanding trade horizon should be the focus

Bangladesh needs to adopt a foreign policy that prioritises national interest while actively seeking new economic opportunities, said speakers at a national dialogue yesterday.

The daylong dialogue styled "Post July Revolution Foreign Policy of Bangladesh: Navigating New Horizons" was organised by the Jatiya Nagorik Committee at the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies auditorium in the capital.

In the first session, Dilara Chowdhury, a political scientist, stressed the importance of maintaining a strong relationship with neighbouring India as it surrounds Bangladesh on almost all sides and a deteriorating relationship with the neighbour could lead to unrest.

India will be keen on keeping Bangladesh under its influence as it is tied to their security concerns, she said. However, blaming only India would not be beneficial either as every country prioritises its own interests, she said.

Both India and China will be very influential in this region in future and Bangladesh needs to handle its foreign policy efficiently to navigate these dynamics successfully.

Besides, Bangladesh needs to be proactive in strengthening its relationship with the SAARC and other Southeast Asian countries to ensure economic growth, she added.

Maintaining a balanced relationship with both India and China is essential, said ASM Ali Ashraf, chairman of the International Relations department at Dhaka University.

Highlighting the importance of economic considerations in foreign policy, he said: "We need to identify our major trading partners. As changes in the trade relationship are not possible overnight, we should focus on expanding our market while maintaining existing relationships with these partners."

For its own interest, Bangladesh needs to maintain a relationship with the influential countries, he added.

Bangladesh is a bridge between ASEAN and SAARC countries, said Mohammad Abdur Rob, vice-chancellor of Manarat International University, in another session.

"The distance between Bangladesh and China, a market of around 150 crore, is only 64 miles. It means the country's location is much too significant for around half of the world's population, not only for trade and commerce but also as a strategic and security hub."

Criticising the previous Awami League regime's claim of the "victory of the sea", he said it was a big loss for Bangladesh as the country lost South Talpatti Island to India and territory sea to Myanmar.

The Talpatti island has huge hydrocarbon potential, he said.

An autonomous foreign policy that may increase friendship with ASEAN countries including Indonesia, Brunei Darussalam and Thailand is recommended.

"We need a strong bond with China," he added.

Bangladesh should fix its foreign policy based on fixing the enemy states and trade interests, said Asaduzzaman Fuaad, general secretary of AB Party.

Bangladesh should have learned from Pakistan on how it balances its relationship with the US and China, said Bobby Hajjaj, chairman of Nationalist Democratic Movement.

"We need a political consensus on the foreign policy too," he said.

Worldwide, foreign policy depends on economic interests, said BNP's Organising Secretary Shama Obaid.

"We also want our economic growth and the interconnectivity of youths across the globe. The ministry of foreign affairs is the same as what was it during the Hasina regime. It failed to respond to the propaganda of Indian media after August 5, which it needed to do."

She demanded the revival of SAARC.

Following the July uprising, Bangladesh's foreign policy must be redefined with a priority on national interests, said Sarjis Alam, chief organiser of the Jatiya Nagorik Committee, in the third session.

"We had been following a foreign policy of self-preservation, but now we need to take a bold and decisive stance."

The country's focus will no longer be limited to just  India, China and the US. It will extend to Russia, Japan, the Middle East and from the Strait of Gibraltar to both sides of the Panama Canal.

"If anyone wants to exert influence over us, let it be clear -- our approach towards them will be the same as theirs towards us. We are not dependent on anyone -- we are mutually interdependent," he added.

The July uprising has major implications for the Bay of Bengal, primarily strategic autonomy, said Shahab Enam Khan, a professor of international relations at Jahangirnagar University.

"We must maintain our strategic autonomy because we own the resources, the waters -- everything belongs to us."

Calling for a national consensus on the Myanmar issue, Khan urged policymakers to take action.

Abul Kalam Mohammad Humayun Kabir, a retired army general and a former ambassador, underscored the Bay of Bengal's importance from a critical security standpoint.

"External forces should think carefully before exerting control over us," he added.

Without a new economic settlement, a new political settlement would not emerge, said Akram Hossain, the joint principal organiser of the Jatiya Nagorik Committee.

"For the past 15 years, the Bay of Bengal was controlled by a handful of individuals. This must change. In this new era of restructuring, discussions on youth and women's participation are crucial," he added.

SM Suja Uddin, a member of the Jatiya Nagorik Committee, highlighted the economic potential of the Bay of Bengal region.

If policies are formulated involving local stakeholders, the region's economy could significantly contribute to the GDP, he added.

In the fourth session, Jahangirnagar University VC Kamrul Ahsan, noted photographer and activist Shahidul Alam, Jatiya Nagorik Committee's Joint Convener Tasnim Jara and Joint Member Secretary Mahbub Alam, among others, spoke.