Govt wants to work with all countries: Hasan

Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud said on Sunday that the government wants to work with all countries -- the West or East --as Bangladesh believes in friendship to all and malice towards none. We want to follow our policy firmly.

"The elections were free and fair and the ambassadors of the US, UK and all other countries have already congratulated the new government and expressed willingness to work with Bangladesh as a development partner," the newly appointed Foreign Minister said at the first day of his duty at a meet the press programme.

Replying to a question, Hasan Mahmud said that there were various pressures from many countries but the government does not feel any pressure. Describing the main challenge what he feels as a minister right now, Hasan Mahmud said now the world is being polarised and maintaining relations with all of them will be a major challenge, however, he said Bangladesh will maintain its core Foreign policy "friendship to all malice to none."

"Bangladesh values the concern of all friendly countries," he said. In response to a query about how he would handle the worries raised, primarily by Western nations, regarding the recent elections, he made this remark. "Nowadays, we should focus on economic diplomacy, we want to develop the country with the support of our friends and partners," he said.

He said he would work on how to ensure remittance in legal channel in the wake of shortage of foreign currency reserves.
Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen and Maritime Affairs Unit Secretary Rear Admiral (retd) Khurshed Alam were also present.

Replying a question on Rohingya issue, Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud expressed optimism that the Rohingya crisis could be resolved diplomatically. "We remain engaged with Myanmar. We hope this problem will be resolved diplomatically," he said while responding to a question. Meeting journalists at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hasan Mahmud said the government does not believe in solving issues with conflicts."

We firmly believe that diplomatically it can be resolved," he said. The foreign minister mentioned that the Rohingyas came to Bangladesh even before the latest influx and he visited the camps in person after the latest influx." Keeping engagement with Myanmar, we hope to resolve the problem with the cooperation from others," said the foreign minister.