Adviser on foreign affairs. Tauhid Hossain said that the main priority for Bangladesh in 2025 will be to deal with the Rohingya crisis as well as maintain strong bilateral relations with three major countries – the United States, India and China.
“Resolving the Rohingya crisis, maintaining good relations with these three countries and ensuring stability is the priority for advancing our economic and diplomatic efforts,” he told reporters at his ministry on Wednesday afternoon.
In response to a question about whether there is any particular preference for any country over another, Towhid said that the US, India or China are not given less priority in any way.
He said, ‘We give equal priority in maintaining relations with these three countries. Because our various interests are deeply intertwined with them. These countries also have their own interests in maintaining good relations with Bangladesh.
The foreign adviser expressed hope that by the end of this year Dhaka’s relations with the world powers would be strengthened.
Asked about the status of Bangladesh-India relations if there is no solution to Dhaka’s request to extradite former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Touhid said it is just one of the various bilateral issues between the two neighbours.
He mentioned that Dhaka’s efforts to bring Hasina back from Delhi and improve relations with India will go hand in hand. ‘I believe both efforts will go forward simultaneously.’ The Foreign Adviser noted that there are several bilateral issues between the two countries and efforts will continue to resolve them through dialogue.
Under the extradition treaty, a diplomatic letter was recently sent from the Bangladesh High Commission in Delhi to India’s Ministry of External Affairs seeking steps to extradite Sheikh Hasina.
The Foreign Ministry of Bangladesh said that they will wait for India’s response to the letter and will take further steps if they get a reply from Delhi.
Regarding relations with China, Tawhid also announced plans to visit China on January 20 for bilateral discussions on various issues between the two countries.
“China has invited and we are going to discuss common issues,” he said, without elaborating on specific issues to be discussed during his upcoming bilateral visit to Beijing.
He described the visit as part of Dhaka’s efforts to maintain balanced relations with the US and India as well as China.
In response to a question, he said that the situation in Myanmar’s Rakhine is very challenging because the reality there has changed.
He also said that the main goal of Bangladesh is to ensure the rights and safety of forcibly displaced Rohingyas. “Without this, the Rohingya will not agree to return (to Myanmar).”
Dhaka Times/January 01/ES
Source: www.dhakatimes24.com
