State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam on Monday said the increasingly complex international order, intensifying strategic rivalries and regional conflicts underscore the need for a foreign policy that responds to emerging realities while remaining firmly anchored in Bangladesh’s national interests.
“In this interconnected world, a crisis in one region has far-reaching and lasting consequences for others,” she said.
She noted that decisions taken in one capital could reshape trade flows across continents, while geopolitical rivalries among major powers could influence the strategic choices available to countries far beyond their immediate neighbourhoods.
Speaking at a seminar at the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) auditorium, Shama said the evolving international landscape had made the discussion particularly timely.
Referring to ongoing conflicts and growing instability around the world, she said Bangladesh was also experiencing the consequences of the unfolding global turmoil.
Mentioning the recent attacks in Saudi Arabia, the State Minister said Bangladesh had lost two nationals in the incidents over the past two days, while at least 24 other Bangladeshis were receiving treatment at hospitals in the country.
“We are actually living in a global turmoil,” she said, highlighting the far-reaching implications of international conflicts.
Shama said Bangladesh needed a foreign policy that was responsive to emerging international realities while remaining guided by its national interests as the global landscape continued to evolve.