Staff Correspondent:
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has pledged to follow the ‘Bangladesh first’ policy in foreign policy if it comes to power in the upcoming 13th parliamentary elections. The party’s announced election manifesto outlines Bangladesh’s future foreign policy in light of this policy.
BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman officially announced the party’s election manifesto at a function held at the Sonargaon Hotel in the capital on Friday (February 6).
The manifesto states that the main foundation of BNP’s foreign policy will be to ensure national sovereignty, independence, national security and the overall welfare of the people. The party has clearly stated that these issues will be given top priority in all international relations and engagements.
BNP declared in its manifesto that the party believes in the principle of ‘there are friends, but no masters’ outside Bangladesh’s borders. In the international arena, Bangladesh will not depend on any single power but will build relations based on mutual respect and equality.
The election manifesto further states that if the BNP forms the government, Bangladesh will play a role in the global arena as a self-respecting, active and responsible state. Expanding international cooperation based on equality, fairness and mutual respect will be one of the goals of their foreign policy.
