"Bangladesh Will Chart Its Own Course," Declares Foreign Minister in London

Addressing a diverse group of expatriates and community leaders, the Foreign Minister asserted that Bangladesh has entered a new era of sovereignty, where national interests and the will of the people will remain the sole drivers of state policy. He emphasized that the current administration is committed to protecting the country’s dignity on the global stage, ensuring that its diplomatic path is no longer dictated by external influences.

The Foreign Minister critiqued the previous political landscape, alleging that the country’s foreign policy had once been "mortgaged" to a specific neighboring power. He contrasted that period with the present government's pledge to return to the "Golden Age" of diplomacy established by the late President Ziaur Rahman—a time characterized by robust sovereignty and principled international engagement. Quoting Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, Dr. Rahman reiterated the administration's core philosophy: "Friendship to all, but no compromise on national interest."

Dr. Khalilur Rahman, who is currently in London to lead the Bangladesh delegation at the 26th Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting (CFAMM), is also actively seeking international support for Bangladesh’s bid for the Presidency of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). Throughout his visit, he has engaged in high-level bilateral meetings with UK Secretary of State Yvette Cooper and other global counterparts, framing Bangladesh as a rising, self-reliant nation ready to take a leadership role in upholding multilateralism and the rules-based international order.