Bangladesh Prioritizes Balance in Foreign Policy, Avoids Dependence on India or China

The Bangladesh government has given clear signals that it wants to maintain a balance in its foreign policy and will not tilt in favour of either India or China. Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's foreign affairs adviser Humayun Kabir has said that Bangladesh will not become a football between China and India. At a roundtable conference in Dhaka, Humayun Kabir said that the current government's foreign policy will be based on pragmatic thinking, balance and national interests. He said Bangladesh wants to maintain good and constructive relations with all major global powers. According to The Business Standard report, Kabir said that the government does not want to depend on any one country. Instead, it will adopt a multi-pronged diplomatic policy. On relations with India and China, he said that Bangladesh will maintain balanced relations with both countries and prioritise its national interests in every decision. He said that whether it is Washington, Beijing or New Delhi, Bangladesh wants to have balanced relations with all. Humayun Kabir described Bangladesh as a very positive development partner of China. He said that Tarique Rahman's recent visit to Beijing "means that Bangladesh's sovereignty is not a priority."