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President calls for 'Bangladesh First' policy in national security
Published : Monday, 2 November, 2026 at 3:40 PM
Observer Online Report
Collected Photo
President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has urged all concerned to maintain international relations by prioritizing national interest, safeguarding national sovereignty, independence, dignity, security, and the welfare of the people under a "Bangladesh First" doctrine.
Addressing the participants of the National Defense Course-2026 and Armed Forces War Course-2026 at Bangabhaban on Monday (November 2), the President stressed that Bangladesh's national security and international engagements must be guided by constructive relations based on sovereign equality, mutual respect, and shared benefit.
He noted that prioritizing national interest does not mean compromising on global friendship or international cooperation.
"We must reaffirm our shared commitment to cooperation over conflict, dialogue over divergence, and peace over confrontation," President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir remarked, adding that Bangladesh remains committed to peaceful coexistence and constructive global engagement.
Evolving Global Threat Landscape
Highlighting the rapidly changing global security landscape, the President pointed out that conventional defense concerns are now intertwined with non-traditional challenges such as climate change, cyber threats, transregional crime, terrorism, pandemics, economic volatility, and disruptive technologies.
He stated that national security can no longer be viewed strictly through a military lens, as it deeply encompasses economic resilience, food and energy security, environmental sustainability, technological agility, and institutional strength.
Given Bangladesh’s strategic location in the Bay of Bengal and the broader Indo-Pacific region, the President emphasized the need for utmost vigilance and strategic foresight. He warned that artificial intelligence, automated systems, misinformation, and cyber warfare pose growing threats to democratic institutions and national security, requiring robust digital literacy and technological preparedness.
Tributes and Institutional Vision
Earlier in his address, the President paid rich tributes to the martyrs of the 1971 Liberation War, the historic contributions of Martyr President Ziaur Rahman Bir Uttam—particularly his declaration of independence in 1971 and the founding of the Defense Services Command and Staff College in 1977—as well as those who laid down their lives during the July-August 2024 uprising and the 17-year struggle for democracy.
Addressing the course participants, including foreign military officers, the President urged domestic leaders to uphold professionalism, integrity, and accountability above all else.
He lauded the National Defense College for fostering a unique platform for military commanders, civil administrators, and international partners to formulate strategic vision for complex global challenges.
-SA
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Editor : Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury
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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; Advertisement: 41053012; 01793317829, 01550707291, 01550707296
E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]. [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], Online-email: [email protected]
