Bangladesh
Foreign Ministry Bangladesh wants respect of foreign countries in decisions on internal affairs
Dhaka, June 16: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has expressed the hope that all foreign countries will respect Bangladesh's right to decide its own internal and external affairs.
The optimism was expressed in response to China's support for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's stance on the recent US crackdown on Bangladesh's visa policy after imposing sanctions on RAB and the agency a year and a half ago.
A post on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Facebook page on Thursday said that Bangladesh, like any self-respecting country, independently decides what steps to take in its internal and external affairs based on the spirit of sovereignty. All parties will respect Bangladesh's right to make decisions.
It has also been said that these decisions are taken to implement the vision given by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the dream of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman for the welfare of the people of the country. All parties will respect Bangladesh's right to take decisions on internal affairs based on the foreign policy of 'friendship with all, enmity with none' as directed by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
In December 2021, the United States imposed sanctions on seven former and current officers of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) on charges of human rights violations. The US government announced the decision to announce the visa policy for Bangladesh ahead of the 12th National Assembly elections in the first week of last May.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said in a press conference on May 15 that the government will not buy anything from any country if any country bans Bangladesh's purchases in terms of foreign trade. The Ministry of Finance has been instructed in this regard. After visiting Japan, United States and United Kingdom, the head of government held this press conference after returning home.
Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin said in response to a question from reporters in Beijing on Wednesday that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina not only spoke of the strong position of the people of Bangladesh, but also spoke to the minds of the international community, especially a large part of the developing world.
He said, in fact, a certain country (pointing to the United States) has been interfering in the internal affairs of Bangladesh and other developing countries of the world under the pretext of democracy and human rights for a long time, ignoring the dire problems of its own country like racial discrimination, gun-violence and drug proliferation.
