Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s decision to skip the BRICS summit in India was “immature” and damaged Bangladesh’s national interest, former premier Sheikh Hasina has said, warning that foreign policy driven by personal reactions or short-term political calculations is inherently counterproductive.
asserted
policy → skip → reactions
In an exclusive interview with PTI, Ms. Hasina said Bangladesh’s participation at the summit of the influential grouping could have opened up new opportunities for the country’s economic and social development, but that chance was lost.
uncertain
chance → say → development
The former Bangladesh Prime Minister said if her presence in New Delhi was the reason behind Mr. Rahman’s refusal to attend the summit, it was very unfortunate, as relations between two countries cannot be determined by personal considerations or political sensitivities involving one individual.
asserted
relations → say → individual
Questioning Mr. Rahman’s decision, Ms. Hasina said that a responsible government should “open doors for the country, not close them.”
asserted
government → question → them
New Delhi had extended an invitation to Bangladesh Prime Minister Rahman for the BRICS summit in his role as the current chair of BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation).
asserted
Delhi → extend → Cooperation
However, Mr. Rahman opted out of the summit, which took place in New Delhi on September 12 and 13.
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which → opt → September
“It was deeply unfortunate that Bangladesh chose not to participate.
asserted
Bangladesh → choose → ?
In my view, it was an immature decision and one that did not serve Bangladesh’s national interest,” Ms. Hasina said.
asserted
Hasina → serve → interest
It brings together major emerging economies and creates opportunities for cooperation in trade, investment, infrastructure, technology and development.
asserted
It → bring → trade
By participating, Bangladesh could have gained valuable experience and opened new opportunities for its own economic and social development.
uncertain
Bangladesh → participate → development
That opportunity was lost,” she said.
asserted
she → lose → ?
The former prime minister said foreign policy cannot be conducted through personal reaction or short-term political calculation.
asserted
policy → say → reaction
“India is our closest neighbour and an important historic partner, but BRICS engagement is also about Bangladesh’s own place in the international community,” she noted.
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she → note → community
The 78-year-old Hasina, living in Delhi since she left Bangladesh following the collapse of her government in August, 2024 in the face of a massive anti-government agitation, also recalled, how then Prime Minister Ziaur Rahman visited New Delhi in 1979 even when she was staying in India.
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she → live → India
“After the assassination of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, along with members of my family on August 15, 1975, and the killing of the four national leaders inside Dhaka Central Jail on November 3, Ziaur Rahman came to power through an unconstitutional process,” Ms. Hasina said in response to written questions.
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Hasina → come → questions
“Yet when he visited Delhi in 1979, I was living in Delhi.
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I → visit → Delhi
When he travelled to London in 1980, I was also in London.
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I → travel → London
My presence in either city did not prevent him from travelling there,” she said.
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she → prevent → him
“So why should my presence in Delhi prevent Ziaur Rahman’s son, Tarique Rahman, from coming to India today?
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presence → prevent → India
What is the real reason behind such a decision?" she asked.
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she → ask → decision
“Relations between two countries cannot be determined by personal considerations or political sensitivities involving one individual,” she stressed.
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she → determine → individual
Ms. Hasina also highlighted how her government’s foreign policy approach helped Bangladesh’s economic growth.
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approach → highlight → growth
“During my tenure, we maintained strong relations with India while also expanding cooperation with China, Russia, Japan, the United States, Europe and many other partners,” she said.
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she → maintain → China
“Friendship with one country never required hostility towards another.
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Friendship → require → another
Bangladesh needs a mature, balanced and confident foreign policy.
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Bangladesh → need → policy
A responsible government should open doors for the country, not close them,” she said.
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she → open → them
The India-Bangladesh relations came under some fresh strain after Ms. Hasina held a virtual media interaction in New Delhi on August 5.
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Hasina → come → August
Following the event, Dhaka reiterated its demand for her extradition and even sought to link it with Mr. Rahman’s planned trip to India.
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Dhaka → follow → India
New Delhi sought to distance itself from the event, saying it neither played a role in it nor endorsed Ms. Hasina’s comments.
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it → seek → comments
The former prime minister also attacked the Rahman government for its overall foreign policy direction, and said it should be “independent, balanced and guided by national interest.”
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it → attack → interest
“The principle given by the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, remains the best guide: friendship to all, malice to none.
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principle → give → none
India is Bangladesh’s closest neighbour and historic friend from the Liberation War,” she said.
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she → say → War
The problem begins when one relationship is used against another,” she said.
asserted
she → begin → another
“It begins when anti-India rhetoric is encouraged for domestic politics.
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rhetoric → begin → politics
It begins when major decisions are taken without transparency,” she added.
asserted
she → begin → transparency
The Awami League leader said Bangladesh is passing through a “grave national crisis as democratic space has been “closed”.
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space → say → crisis
“The judiciary has been used for political revenge.
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judiciary → use → revenge
Media freedom has been restricted.
asserted
freedom → restrict → ?
Law and order have weakened.
asserted
Law → weaken → ?
Minorities feel unsafe.
asserted
Minorities → feel → ?
…and 18 more, not listed.
The Aporia
