Rohingya issue; ties with US, India, China priorities in 2025: Touhid
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DHAKA, Jan 01, 2025 (BSS) – Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain today emphasized that maintaining strong bilateral relations with three major countries – the US, India, and China – alongside addressing the Rohingya crisis, will be key priorities for Bangladesh in 2025.
“Priority is to resolve the Rohingya crisis, priority is to keep good relations with those three countries, and priority is to advance our economic and diplomatic efforts while ensuring stability,” he told reporters at his ministry this afternoon.
Responding to a question on whether there is any particular priority for one country over another, Touhid stated that there is no lesser priority given to the US, India, or China.
“We place equal priority on maintaining ties with these three countries as our various interests are deeply aligned with them,” he said, adding that these countries also have their own interests in maintaining good relations with Bangladesh.
The foreign adviser expressed hope that Dhaka’s relations with these global powers will be further strengthened by the end of this year.
When asked about the state of Bangladesh-India relations if Dhaka’s request for the return of ousted former prime minister Sheikh Hasina remains unaddressed, Touhid said this is just one of several bilateral issues between the two neighbors.
He mentioned that Dhaka’s efforts to bring Hasina back from Delhi and to uplift ties with India will proceed in parallel. “I believe both will proceed simultaneously,” he added.
The foreign adviser pointed out that there are several bilateral matters between the two nations, and efforts to address them through discussion will continue.
Under the extradition treaty, a diplomatic letter was recently sent from the Bangladesh High Commission in Delhi to the Indian Ministry of External Affairs requesting steps to send back Sheikh Hasina.
Bangladesh’s Foreign Ministry has stated that it will await a response from India regarding the letter, and further steps will be taken once a response is received from Delhi.
Regarding relations with China, Touhid also disclosed his plans to visit China on January 20 for bilateral discussions on various matters between the two nations.
“China has extended an invitation, and I will be going to address the issues we share,” he said, refraining from elaborating on the specific topics to be discussed during his upcoming bilateral visit to Beijing.
He, however, described the visit as part of Dhaka’s effort to maintain balanced relations with China, alongside the United States and India.
In response to a question, he said the situation in Myanmar’s Rakhine is extremely challenging because the ground realities there have changed.
He emphasized that Bangladesh’s main objective is to ensure the rights and security of the forcibly displaced Rohingyas. “Without this, they will not agree to return (to Myanmar),” he added.