The Jatiya Sangsad on Saturday unanimously adopted a thanksgiving motion on Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s successful completion of official visits to Malaysia and China.
While adopting the motion, parliament members belonging to both treasury and the opposition benches described the tours as a landmark event in Bangladesh’s foreign policy and economic diplomacy.
LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir moved the motion, which was adopted by voice votes after threadbare discussions in the House.
Taking part in the discussion on the motion, Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury and Leader of the Opposition in parliament Dr. Shafiqur Rahman underscored the strategic significance of the prime minister’s June 21-26 two-nation visits.
Before putting the motion to a voice vote, Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, Bir Bikram, said the debate reflected a rare consensus across party lines, with lawmakers from both the government and the opposition placing “thoughtful and valuable opinions” on the issue.
“The discussions clearly indicate that the prime minister’s recent visits to Malaysia and China have opened a new horizon in Bangladesh’s foreign policy,” he told the House.
The Speaker said members believed the visits would further strengthen Bangladesh’s independence, sovereignty and national security while accelerating economic development and drawing greater international attention to the country’s security concerns.
Recalling Bangladesh’s Liberation War, he said the nation achieved independence in 1971 through immense sacrifices and had subsequently overcome numerous difficult periods.
He observed that there had been governments which failed to make adequate efforts to safeguard the country’s independence and sovereignty.
“The nation has become optimistic following the successful visits by the leader of the House and prime minister,” the Speaker said, adding that people from all walks of life were expressing appreciation for the achievements of the tours.
He then placed before the House the motion expressing parliament’s gratitude to the prime minister for the outstanding success of the official tours, which was adopted unanimously by voice vote.
Earlier, while moving the motion, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir described the prime minister’s Malaysia and China visits as highly successful and of immense importance for Bangladesh’s diplomacy and economic interests.
He said the prime minister undertook the visits as the representative of Bangladesh’s democratic government after nearly 18 years of what he termed “fascist rule”, adding that the tours further strengthened bilateral relations with both countries on the basis of mutual respect.
The minister said several important agreements and memorandums of understanding (MoUs) were signed during the visits, while the prime minister established himself as a respected national and international leader through his commitment to public welfare and efforts to introduce a new political culture.
Highlighting the China visit, he said 17 MoUs were signed following bilateral discussions between the prime minister and the Chinese leadership, while cordial talks with the Chinese President deepened cooperation between the two countries.
He said both China and Malaysia reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Bangladesh’s economic development and expressed willingness to expand cooperation further, including extending support in addressing challenges such as the Rohingya crisis.
The LGRD minister also lauded the prime minister for discouraging elaborate public receptions during official foreign visits.
“Despite the remarkable success of the tours, the prime minister instructed that no public receptions be arranged, thereby setting a new political culture that avoids unnecessary public inconvenience,” he added.
Participating in the discussion, Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury said the Prime Minister’s visits had established a new ‘benchmark’ for Bangladesh’s diplomacy by reaffirming the country’s commitment to mutual respect, mutual interests, non-interference in internal affairs and strategic autonomy.
“The visits were firmly rooted in Bangladesh’s long-standing foreign policy principles of maintaining friendly relations with all countries based on mutual respect, shared interests, non-interference and strategic autonomy,” he said.
The finance minister said the prime minister’s decision not to arrange large crowds or ceremonial receptions at airports reflected a significant ‘cultural change’ in Bangladesh’s political practice and set an important standard for future democratic politics.
He said Bangladesh would never compromise its national interests and would continue to utilise every opportunity for economic cooperation with all countries for the benefit of its people.
Highlighting Malaysia’s importance, Amir Khosru said Bangladesh has significant interests there in labour migration, energy cooperation, trade and investment.
Referring to China as Bangladesh’s largest trading partner and a key development partner, he said discussions focused on reducing the trade imbalance by increasing Bangladeshi exports to the Chinese market.
“The successful visits have not only strengthened bilateral relations with Malaysia and China but also reaffirmed the principles that will guide Bangladesh’s engagement with the international community in the years ahead,” he added.
Leader of the opposition Dr. Shafiqur Rahman also expressed his party’s support for the motion, reaffirming the opposition’s commitment to safeguarding Bangladesh’s independent foreign policy and national interests.
“Bangladesh belongs to all its citizens,” he said, stressing that the country should pursue a truly independent foreign policy. “The country comes first.”
Assuring the government of the opposition’s cooperation on issues involving national interests, he said the opposition would always stand beside any initiative that served the country’s greater interests.
Describing Malaysia and China as Bangladesh’s longstanding and trusted friends, Dr. Rahman said the country remains an import-dependent economy and emphasised the need to diversify both exports and overseas employment through short, medium and long-term planning.
He expressed the hope that these priorities had been addressed during the prime minister’s discussions with the two countries.
The opposition leader also underscored the importance of parliamentary democracy and called for placing major international agreements before parliament to ensure greater transparency and accountability.
He said Bangladesh’s relations with all countries should be based on mutual respect, equality and mutual interest while maintaining an independent foreign policy free from external interference.
Dr. Shafiqur Rahman further said parliament should remain the focal point of all state affairs and called for strengthening democratic practices through constructive engagement between the government and the opposition.
He also stressed the need for a healthier political culture in which the ruling party respects the opposition while the opposition contributes constructively to nation-building instead of opposing every government initiative.
Concluding his speech, the opposition leader wished the prime minister good health, long life and continued success before reiterating his party’s support for the thanksgiving motion.
The unanimous adoption of the motion reflected an uncommon consensus across the political divide, with both the government and the opposition acknowledging the strategic importance of the prime minister’s Malaysia and China visits in advancing Bangladesh’s foreign policy, economic diplomacy and national interests.
Bd-Pratidin English/ AM
