Sabah Mannan
With the repatriation of the Rohingyas under the arrangement signed on November 23, 2017, Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali on Wednesday hoped for a new beginning with Myanmar. He remarked that the issue of Rohingya influx with Myanmar remained a threat in bilateral relations between the two countries and also added that India has been Bangladesh’s most important partner throughout. The Foreign Minister was addressing a seminar titled ‘Changing Global Dynamics: Bangladesh Foreign Policy’ shedding light on “Evolving Bangladesh Foreign Policy in the Context of Contemporary Geopolitics” at Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) where State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam and Chairman of BIISS Ambassador Munshi Faiz also spoke. AH Mahmood Ali further added that Bangladesh will continue to pursue regional cooperation for sustainable growth and economic integration through Saarc, Bimstec, BBIN, SASEC, and BCIM. He also addressed that human rights and fundamental freedoms are the keys to our existence while talking about promotion of justice, rule of law and human rights. Other important objectives laid by the Foreign Minister included Bangladesh continuing to maintain a lead role in the UN peacekeeping operations, deeper engagement with the European Union, Maritime cooperation and Blue Economy developments.