PM: Nat’l interest drove Malaysia, China tours

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman said on Saturday that his maiden official visits to Malaysia and China were guided solely by the interests of Bangladesh and its people, stressing that every engagement during the six-day tour was conducted under a “Bangladesh First” policy.
Responding in parliament after lawmakers unanimously adopted a thanksgiving motion recognising the success of his 21-26 June visits, the prime minister said protecting national interests had been the guiding principle of his overseas engagements.
“The fundamental issue here is that the people of Bangladesh have entrusted us with the responsibility of safeguarding their interests. From our party’s perspective, we use the slogan, ‘Bangladesh First’,” he told parliament.
“What I have tried to do, from my position, is to speak for the interests of my country and its people and to protect those interests.”
The premier said no individual should claim personal credit for the outcomes of the visits.
“There is nothing personal in this for any of us. If there has been any achievement, it is Bangladesh’s achievement,” he said.
Thanking lawmakers from both the treasury and opposition benches for their support, he said their encouragement would inspire him to continue working for the country and its people.

The thanksgiving motion, moved by Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, was adopted unanimously by voice vote after an extensive discussion in the House, chaired by Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, Bir Bikram.
Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle described the visits as a landmark in Bangladesh’s foreign policy and economic diplomacy, highlighting their potential to deepen strategic partnerships and attract investment.
Before putting the motion to a vote, the Speaker said the debate reflected a rare consensus across party lines.
“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.
Moving the motion, Fakhrul said the prime minister’s first overseas visits as the head of a democratic government formed after a long anti-fascist movement carried exceptional significance.
“Through these visits, Bangladesh’s relations with Malaysia and China have become stronger, and a new horizon of bilateral cooperation has been opened based on mutual respect and mutual interests,” he said.
He said high-level meetings during the visits laid the groundwork for greater economic cooperation, expanded trade and investment, and renewed efforts to address the Rohingya crisis.
The minister also praised the prime minister for ending the long-standing political practice of arranging elaborate receptions before departing for and after returning from official foreign tours, saying it reflected a positive change in political culture.
Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury and Opposition Leader Dr Shafiqur Rahman also underlined the strategic importance of the two-nation tour during the parliamentary discussion.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman said the China leg of the visit marked the highest level of bilateral engagement ever achieved between Dhaka and Beijing, elevating relations to a “China-Bangladesh Community with a Shared Future”.
“This is the highest step in terms of China’s bilateral engagement,” he told reporters at the foreign ministry while briefing the media on the outcomes of the prime minister’s tour.
He said the upgrade from a “Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership” reflected Bangladesh’s growing strategic importance in China’s regional diplomacy and opened a new chapter in bilateral relations.
According to the foreign minister, the two countries agreed to institutionalise a strategic dialogue at foreign minister level and introduce a “2+2” dialogue mechanism covering diplomacy and defence.
Both sides also agreed to accelerate implementation of the Mongla Port Modernisation and Expansion Project and the Chinese Economic and Industrial Zone Development Project in Chattogram, while reaffirming their commitment to deepen cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative through both major infrastructure schemes and people-centred development initiatives.
During the visit, Bangladesh and China signed eight memorandums of understanding, three agreements, one protocol and a Joint Action Plan covering development cooperation, agriculture, education, trade, investment, human resource development and media cooperation.
In addition, the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority signed two agreements and one memorandum of understanding with a Chinese private-sector company, while the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and the Communist Party of China signed a separate memorandum to strengthen political cooperation.
Dr Khalilur said the two countries also discussed expanding regional connectivity through multimodal transport links connecting Kunming with Bangladeshi ports and advancing the proposed China-Bangladesh-Myanmar Economic Corridor.
He said significant progress had also been made on the Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project, with China pledging full support and both sides agreeing to expedite the project's feasibility study.
The two countries further agreed to strengthen cooperation in integrated water resources management, flood control, river dredging, technology exchange and defence.
China also pledged support for Bangladesh’s efforts to join BRICS, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, the foreign minister said.