Bangladesh recalibrates foreign policy with balanced, interest-driven diplomacy

Reading Time: 3 minutes Bangladesh has adopted a distinctly balanced and pragmatic foreign policy over the past year, prioritising national interest, reciprocity, and constructive engagement with all major global and regional powers, Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain has said. In an exclusive interview, Hossain described the government’s approach as “Bangladesh-centric” and guided by enlightened self-interest, stressing that Dhaka is committed to maintaining sovereignty and pursuing mutually beneficial partnerships rather than aligning with any particular bloc. “If we give something to India, I will expect that we will be able to get from India what we need, either in equal measure or even more,” Hossain said, adding that the same principle applies to all countries. Leveraging Soft Power Hossain noted that Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus’s global standing as a Nobel laureate has proven to be an asset in diplomatic outreach. He cited one example where a single phone call