State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam today said Bangladesh’s security cooperation with other countries does not mean joining any alliances but rather protecting its own sovereignty.
Security cooperation does not mean joining any alliance: Shahriar Alam
“Security cooperation doesn’t refer to necessarily strategic alliance … (if anyone thinks that) Bangladesh might join that country against a war with a third country that is far away from reality,” he said when asked on what ground Bangladesh has signed security cooperation agreements with other countries.
Alam added, “Bangladesh doesn’t want any war, will not go for any war … (and) we are not under any security threat”.
The state minister was speaking at an interaction session titled “Bangladesh at the Crossroads” hosted by the Daily Ittefaq at a city hotel.
The Daily Ittefaq Executive Director and Publisher Tareen Hossain delivered welcome remarks.
Alam said Bangladesh procures security equipment from different countries to protect its own sovereignty and to curb any sort of radicalism or terrorist acts.
He said security equipment has been procured to implement the forces goal 2030, however, the process has slowed down due to the global economic condition.
Alam said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina-led government is not under any foreign pressure.
Responding to another question, the state minister said the China-led Global Development Initiative (GDI) is a new phenomenon and there is nothing to share until something is done from Bangladesh’s side.
He said there is a committee in place which will look into it. “We are yet to reach any such stage regarding GDI,” he said.
Alam said Bangladesh joined the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and they have no concerns about the BRI.
Regarding a political question, he said a free and fair election requires equal political commitments from all political parties.
Shahriar hoped that all political parties will take part in the election demonstrating their commitment.
On the Rohingya crisis, he said the government is doing its best and seeking cooperation from the major countries to solve the crisis.
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