Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan stated on Thursday that Bengali identity requires no validation from Kolkata, nor does Muslim identity necessitate approval from Rawalpindi or Karachi, emphasising Bangladesh's unique national character, reports BSS.
The event, titled ‘Ziaur Rahman’s Independent Non-Aligned Diplomacy in the Current Context’, was organised at the Press Institute Bangladesh to mark the 45th death anniversary of the former president, Ziaur Rahman.
Swapan remarked that Bangladesh’s unique national identity helps determine which forces respect the country’s sovereignty and with whom it should cooperate to preserve that identity.
Highlighting what he described as Ziaur Rahman’s diplomatic foresight, the minister said the former president had moved Bangladesh away from the one-party political structure that existed before 1975 and opened the way for multiparty democracy, a market-oriented economy, and broader acceptance among international donors and the Muslim world.
According to Swapan, the cornerstone of Ziaur Rahman’s foreign policy was building friendships without creating enemies.
He said the former president had succeeded in winning praise from Indian leaders while also promoting a multilateral approach to resolving regional issues through the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).
The minister added that Ziaur Rahman’s emphasis on non-alignment and multilateral cooperation continues to serve as an important guide for the current government. He further noted that the strength required to pursue an independent foreign policy had been reinforced by last year’s mass uprising.
Speaking as a special guest, economist Mushtaq Khan argued that Ziaur Rahman’s most significant contribution was the concept of ‘Bangladeshi nationalism’, which helped resolve an identity crisis among Bengali Muslims.
Referring to South Africa’s former Bantustan system, Khan alleged that India’s objective was to maintain Bangladesh’s formal independence while exerting influence over its foreign and security policies.
Khan also noted that the founding members of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) came from diverse ideological backgrounds—including leftists, rightists, secular Marxists, and Islamists—but shared a common opposition to Indian influence.
Responding to these remarks, Swapan pointed to Bangladesh’s diplomatic realities, noting that the country depends on China and India for imports, the United States and Europe for exports, the Middle East for remittances, and Russia for energy security.
Given these realities, he said, Bangladesh requires a foreign policy capable of balancing all major partners while safeguarding national interests. Regarding relations with India, Swapan stated that Bangladesh is prepared to address outstanding issues with its neighbour, but only on terms that protect the country’s own interests.
