Desk Report:

Sheikh Hasina led Awami League formed the government for the fourth consecutive term through a free-fair and impartial election. By organizing this participatory election, new wings have been added to the success of Bangladesh’s foreign policy and diplomacy. Now the newly elected Awami League government is successfully increasing its ties with various countries.

As per the foreign policy, the government is keen to deepen friendship with all. But the beginning is with the Asian neighbors. Sun Haiyan, an official of the rank of Vice Minister of the Communist Party of China recently met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in Dhaka. The Prime Minister sought more cooperation from China to smooth the progress of Bangladesh as a mega-development partner and strategic partner.

Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud is going on his first bilateral visit to Delhi on February 7 at the invitation of his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will attend the Munich Security Conference next February.

Foreign Minister Hassan Mahmud attended the NAM and South Summit in Uganda. Before this, immediately after the announcement of the election results, different countries quickly congratulated the new government.

Pranay Kumar Verma, the Indian High Commissioner to Dhaka, expressed hope that there will be more dynamics in the relations with India during the new term of the Awami League government.

On January 15, After the meeting with Foreign Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud, Pranay Verma said that this relationship can play a stronger role in the development partnership of the two countries.

India, China, Egypt, Algeria, Italy, Russia, European Union, Commonwealth, United Nations, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Egypt, Singapore, Malaysia, Brazil, Luxembourg, Japan and UNDP and many countries and organizations have congratulated Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on her 4th term victory.

But the US Ambassador Peter Haas caught everyone’s attention. He said that Bangladesh and the United States will work on how to increase trade expansion.

After a courtesy meeting with Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud on January 17, he said that the United States wants to work on climate change, trade expansion, and the Rohingya issue, which is urgent for both sides.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s congratulations to Sheikh Hasina is also widely discussed in politics. The prime minister, a close ally of the United States, praised Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s prudent leadership in a congratulatory message and wished to work together for mutual and international interests.

During a courtesy meeting with Sheikh Hasina at Ganabhaban on January 18, EU Ambassador Charles Whiteley promised to take partnership and cooperation with Bangladesh to new heights. The EU ambassador said that the existing benefits of Bangladesh in various sectors including environment, good governance, renewable energy, and transportation under the global gateway facility will be strengthened in the coming days. He also promised to provide GSP-plus facility to Bangladesh.

European Council President Charles Michel said in his congratulatory message to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina that the European Union is committed to continue working together with Bangladesh on sustainable development, climate change, migration, and other common interests.

Countries like India, Russia, China, and various countries of the Middle East have been seen to adopt a flexible position even before the 12th national elections. The United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada were neutral. And some other rich countries including the European Union, Japan took a moderate position. The government may consider these in the future for increasing ties. However, countries that disagree with the current government’s political philosophy are rich and powerful. Diplomatic analysts think that the Awami League government should consider this.

But geopolitically, Bangladesh has now become important in Asia as well as in the world. Bangladesh’s relationship with neighboring India is historic. The relationship between the two countries is also important in the commercial field. The major investors in Bangladesh are Russia and China, the major export markets are the European Union and the United Kingdom. The Middle East is a major labor market and source of energy for Bangladesh’s remittances. Japan is the biggest development partner of Bangladesh. Since these countries are interested in working with the current government, Bangladesh will use the opportunity to deepen the friendship as soon as possible.