Staff Reporter :
Foreign Adviser Md Touhid Hossain has announced that a long-awaited roadmap, demanded by political parties, will be introduced soon. He also stated that the government is working to transfer power to an elected government as quickly as possible.
Speaking at an event titled “Branding Bangladesh”, organised by Non-Resident Bangladeshis (NRBs) at a city hotel on Saturday, he remarked, “There has been ongoing uncertainty regarding the political situation.
A roadmap will be introduced soon, and the government is committed to transferring power to elected representatives at the earliest opportunity.”
Addressing the role of political parties, the Adviser noted that no other country has as many overseas branches of political parties as Bangladesh does.
“This damages the image of Bangladeshis. Incidents such as rallies, slogans, or egg-throwing in support of parties like the BNP, Awami League, and others negatively affect the country’s branding. Hostile behaviour on foreign soil tarnishes Bangladesh’s reputation,” he said.
He further highlighted that the intense hostility between political parties in Bangladesh extends to their branches abroad, exacerbating the damage to the nation’s global image.
The Adviser urged media cooperation to address this issue, stating, “Hostility abroad harms Bangladesh’s reputation. Media support is crucial in mitigating this impact.”
On political stability, he commented, “Political instability will subside, and then investors will come to Bangladesh.”
Md Touhid Hossain also criticised the Indian media for propagating negative narratives about Bangladesh since the interim government assumed power. He claimed these narratives include accusations of border tensions and the persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh. He stressed the importance of media cooperation in countering such misinformation.
The Adviser acknowledged both the positive and negative contributions of NRBs. He admitted that complaints regarding inadequate assistance from Bangladeshi embassies abroad were often valid, though not universally so.
Additionally, he assured that the government would take strict action against any harassment of expatriates at airports.
