FM: Bangladesh must never again become a “client state”

Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman on Wednesday said Bangladesh must never again become a “client state,” describing the country’s post-July diplomatic approach as one that puts “Bangladesh First” while safeguarding its sovereignty amid an increasingly complex global order.

Speaking as the chief guest at a programme marking the July Mass Uprising Day, he said one of the central achievements of the July movement was the determination to ensure that Bangladesh would no longer be dependent on or dictated by external powers.

Secretary (East & West) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr Md Nazrul Islam and Rector of the Foreign Service Academy Muhammad Abdul Muhith also spoke at the programme held at the Foreign Service Academy. A one-minute silence was observed at the beginning.

“One of the big things about the July movement is that we do not want to see Bangladesh as a client state,” he said, referring to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s remarks made earlier at the inauguration of the July Memorial Museum.

He recalled being deeply shaken by reports of violence on August 1, 2024, and contacting the office of the United Nations Secretary-General, urging action over what he described as grave human rights violations.

The Foreign Minister said he reached out to the UN Secretary-General’s office at that time to let him know that he could not ignore such terrible human rights violations in Bangladesh.

“We told him… them… him that. And I think it wasn’t that he sat there in silence. And we saw after a while that at least some of the forces stopped firing. And I think that the change that we were accelerating probably played a role,” he said.

Echoing that message, Dr Khalilur said Bangladesh’s foreign policy under this government has been guided by a single principle.

“From the very beginning, the biggest aspect of our government’s foreign policy has been ‘Bangladesh First.’ We will never go back to that client state, never again,” he said.

The Foreign Minister said the Foreign Ministry has a frontline role in ensuring that Bangladesh never returns to such a position.

“The Foreign Ministry is on the front line of actions to ensure that,” he said.

Reflecting on the July Uprising, Dr Khalilur described the crackdown as the most brutal time in the history of Bangladesh since independence.

“It was the most brutal time in the history of Bangladesh… a great dark chapter. We haven’t seen a time like this since independence,” he said.

Dr Khalilur also said Bangladesh’s international standing has improved significantly since the political transition, recalling remarks made by Türkiye’s foreign minister during a recent meeting.

“We are very happy to see Bangladesh coming back, which was once disappearing from the international arena,” he quoted the Turkish foreign minister as saying.

Dr Khalilur said the comment reinforced the government’s belief that Bangladesh has regained an independent voice in global affairs.

The Foreign Minister, however, cautioned that Bangladesh must navigate an increasingly uncertain international environment marked by challenges to multilateralism and the erosion of the post-World War II rules-based order.

“We are in a complex international and regional situation. We see multilateralism increasingly facing big challenges… We have to navigate through this complex regional and global reality,” he said.

Highlighting what he described as the government’s early diplomatic successes, Dr Khalilur recounted Bangladesh’s decision to contest the election for the presidency of the UN General Assembly despite challenges.

He said the Prime Minister insisted Bangladesh should remain in the race and that it was like a mission impossible.

Dr Khalilur said Bangladesh’s eventual victory demonstrated the country’s diplomatic capability and confidence.

“The Foreign Ministry passed its first test, and it was a very severe test,” he said.

He said the sacrifices made during the July movement imposed a lasting responsibility on the country’s institutions, particularly the Foreign Ministry.

“We are walking on their blood. Let us never forget that responsibility,” he said, referring to those killed and injured during the movement.

Dr Khalilur urged officials to ensure that Bangladesh’s sovereignty, independence and national interests remain at the centre of its foreign policy, saying, “We will never go back to that client state.”