Saturday | 5 October 2024 | Reg No- 06
বাংলা
   
Saturday | 5 October 2024 | Epaper
BREAKING: ● 3 die in Sherpur flood; 60,000 stranded      ● Ex-president Badruddoza Chowdhury passes away      ● Killing during students' movement: 9 bodies to be exhumed in Sylhet      ● Malaysian prime minister leaves Dhaka for home      ● CA seeks Malaysian support for Bangladesh to be ASEAN dialogue partner      ● Malaysian PM assures of attention to 18,000 Bangladesh workers       ● Bid to kill Khaleda Zia: Sheikh Hasina among 113 sued      

Dhaka firmly sticks to NAM principles

Published : Saturday, 27 January, 2024 at 12:00 AM  Count : 492
Sauid Ahmed Khan
Addressing the 19th Non-Alignment Movement (NAM) summit in Kampala, Uganda, on the 20th of January, Dr. Hasan Mahmud, the newly appointed foreign minister of Bangladesh, who also headed the Bangladeshi delegation, called for an end to the conflict through peaceful approaches and a greater emphasis on efforts to promote peace. Dr. Mahmud reiterated Bangladeshs unwavering solidarity with the Palestinian people and advocated for their immediate escape from oppression. The Palestinian people are suffering firmly from the ongoing conflict, and he emphasized that the international community must full and wholeheartedsupport them and do everything possible against this backdrop. Additionally, the minister stressed the importance of everyone concerned stepping up their efforts to find a long-term resolution to the Rohingya crisis. To foster peaceful, equitable, and inclusive communities, he highlighted the importance of constructive interaction that eschews conflict.

Nevertheless, Dr. Mahmuds remarks echoed Bangladeshs adherence to NAM principles and its "friendship to all, malice to none" foreign policy dictum, which in turn mirrored the statements delivered by the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, at the 1973 NAM Summit in Algiers. In that speech, Bangabandhu emphasized the principles of non-alignment and effective economic cooperation, which are still relevant today, fifty years later.

When we endeavor to understand the foreign policy principles of Bangladesh, it is necessary to investigate its historical foundations. After a tumultuous inception in 1971, although Bangladesh encountered multiple challenges, its advocating for a foreign policy strategy considering regional dynamics while safeguarding national interests. In pursuit of creating change, Bangladesh joined the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in 1973, two years after its independence.

With its establishment at the peak of the Cold War, NAM provides a one-of-a-kind platform for nations such as Bangladesh to proclaim autonomy as well as participate in negotiations beyond the conventional geopolitical blocs. The engagement of Bangladesh in the NAM talks is a striking illustration of the nations foreign policy principles in the complex realm of global relations. Adhering to principles that prioritize sovereignty, non-alignment, and global collaboration, Bangladesh has successfully maneuvered through the complex geopolitical circumstances of South Asia and avoided protected conflicts with its neighboring India as well as Myanmar.  

Bangladeshs unwavering non-alignment is an unambiguous sign of its commitment to sovereignty. Bangladesh has consistently adhered to the NAM principles, which stress the need for a neutral foreign policy untangled from any particular bloc, compared to many other states that attach themselves to superpowers. Consequently, Bangladesh reaffirmed its dedication towards this goal at the NAM discussions when it maintained neutrality and non-alignment and upheld its autonomy by acting in its own national interest despite international pressure. Within the context of the NAM framework, strategic imperatives influence Bangladeshs foreign policy decisions.

For instances, being close to two regional superpowers, China and India, Bangladesh has been able to keep its amicable ties with both countries, taking advantage of economic alliances and avoiding being embroiled in geopolitical battles. Similarly, despite reportedly profound lobbying from the US and its coalition partners to be members of their Indo-Pacific alliance and Chinas simultaneous plea to Dhaka not to enter into any geopolitical orbit, Bangladesh has chosen to follow its own Indo-Pacific strategies in 2023, in accordance with its foreign policy dictum. Frequently a proponent of regional stability, this country is engaged in numerous multilateral initiatives to deal with global challenges. This careful equilibrium shows its determination to safeguard its own interests.

Again, the NAMs tenets are consistent with Bangladeshs involvement in United Nations peacekeeping operations (UNPKO). It has shown its dedication to international stability by sending troops to UN missions repeatedly, and it has surpassed almost every nation in terms of the number of personnel it deploys to UNPKO. Bangladesh raises its image internationally and demonstrates its commitment to non-alignment and diplomatic conflict resolution by taking part in peacekeeping operations.

Moreover, in recent years, Bangladesh has been a vocal advocate of climate policies, considering its vulnerability to rising sea levels, severe weather events, and climate change. Bangladesh is trying to use the NAM discussions to raise awareness about climate change and rally support for international efforts to address the challenges. It may be palpable that, in terms of climate diplomacy, Bangladesh demonstrates a sophisticated diplomatic stance that goes beyond conventional geopolitical concerns by highlighting the interdependence between environmental concerns and global security.

As shocking as it may sound, Bangladeshs foreign policy has been put to the litmus test in a serious way within the context of the NAM framework by the Rohingya issue. A complex emergency arose from the large influx of Rohingya migrants from Myanmar. The pragmatic and compassionate approach from Bangladesh demonstrated the countrys dedication to human rights while preserving its own interests. Bangladesh received worldwide praise for its humanitarian actions in 2017 after hosting a large number of Rohingya refugees. At the same time, it collaborated with the international community using NAM principles to tackle the crisiss roots and highlight the significance of a diplomatic resolution. This two-pronged strategy is a perfect illustration of Bangladeshs foreign policy motto: fighting for justice while also trying to find diplomatic solutions in a multilateral context.

Although Bangladeshs involvement in the NAM summits is a positive statement of foreign policy, there remain a few obstacles that must be overcome. Adroit diplomatic maneuvering is required to traverse the barriers caused by the dynamic geopolitical scene, rising tensions in the region, and complicated economic issues. Amidst these difficulties, Bangladesh has an opportunity to distinguish itself as a mediator between countries, utilizing its standing in the NAM to encourage communication and collaboration.

To sum up, Bangladeshs participation in the NAM summits demonstrates how a war-ragged country has become an important factor in creating a multipolar global order by illuminating the complexities of Bangladeshs sovereignty, non-alignment, economic as well as climate diplomacy, and international cooperation. As itfacessome unprecedented challenges while working to recover, Bangladesh proclaims its steadfast dedication to the NAM principles, which reflect a foreign policy that has helped Bangladesh to achieve its goal of becoming the "Switzerland of South Asia".

Undoubtedly, Bangladeshs dedication to a non-aligned foreign policy and peaceful conflict resolution reflected in its Chittagong Hills Tracts Peace Treaty, peaceful mutual water sharing of the River Ganges, unwavering support for the oppressed Palestinian people, and its votes for a United Nations resolution against Russia on the Ukraine issue. But, theres still some challenges. So, a pragmatic and principled foreign policy is essential for Bangladesh as it navigates the complexity of international interactions, and the countrys involvement in the NAM is important to this endeavor.

The writer is a Freelance Contributor



LATEST NEWS
MOST READ
Also read
Is a full-scale war in Middle East imminent?  
How UN stays relevant by prolonging ME crisis
Unchanging value of literature in the age of algorithms
Teachers should focus on social justice in classrooms
Our fiscal transparency in the report of USA
Joviality in self exploration
The observance of the world teacher's day in the new light
Natural gas crisis in Bangladesh: Is LNG the only solution?
Editor : Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury
Published by the Editor on behalf of the Observer Ltd. from Globe Printers, 24/A, New Eskaton Road, Ramna, Dhaka.
Editorial, News and Commercial Offices : Aziz Bhaban (2nd floor), 93, Motijheel C/A, Dhaka-1000.
Phone: PABX- 41053001-06; Online: 41053014; Advertisement: 41053012.
E-mail: info©dailyobserverbd.com, news©dailyobserverbd.com, advertisement©dailyobserverbd.com, For Online Edition: mailobserverbd©gmail.com
🔝