BSS,Dhaka: Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen today said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, with his visionary leadership, had navigated the country’s international relations in a direction that still works as a guiding principle for Bangladesh.
“(Bangabandhu’s) Statement ‘Friendship to all, malice towards none’ was rolled out which is still believed to be an exemplary philosophical stand in terms of foreign policy of any country,” he said.
The foreign minister was speaking as the chief guest at a webinar titled “Bangabandhu and Bangladesh: An Epic Nation’s Emergence and Emancipation” organized by Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) in the capital.
In leading Bangladesh towards an independent nation, Dr Momen said, Bangabandhu nourished the innate Bangalee nationalism through his own political struggle against the oppressive state of Pakistan.
He said the primary goals of Bangabandhu’s foreign policy were to be in a big-league of friendly countries, attain recognition for the newly independent country and ensure membership of international organizations.
He said the guiding principle of Bangladesh, newly born Bangladesh’s constitution, was written and adopted with the fundamental principles of Bangalee nationalism, democracy, secularism, and socialism.
“In the world torn apart with the deadly cold war and threatened by nuclear weapons, Bangabandhu’s position was always for the oppressed, freedom and peace-loving people,” Momen said.
Bangabandhu declared his strong position against war and anything that disrupts global security, peace, and development, he added.
State minister for Planning Dr. Samsul Alam was the special guest while BIISS chairman ambassador M. Fazlul Karim presided over the event.
BIISS director general Major General Md. Emdad Ul Bari delivered the welcome remarks while Bangabandhu Chair Professor of University of Dhaka Dr Atiur Rahman and Bangabandhu Chair Professor of Bangladesh University of Professionals Dr Syed Anwar Husain presented two separate papers.
During the event, the foreign minister launched a book published by BIISS on Bangabandhu titled “Bangabandhu and Bangladesh: An Epic of a Nation’s Emergence and Emancipation”.
Since the beginning of 2020, BIISS undertook a number of initiatives and programs centring the birth centenary of Bangabandhu.
As part of this initiative, BIISS organized series of seminars and webinars throughout the year.
This book is the compilation of revised and edited versions of the papers presented at the seminars and webinars throughout the year.
