Two state ministers for foreign affairs to boost ministry’s workload, pace: Shama

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam has said the government decided to appoint two state ministers to the Foreign Ministry to handle its increased workload and accelerate its activities.

She made the remarks while responding to questions from journalists after a public dialogue titled ‘Politics Lab: Empowering Young Women in Political Leadership in Bangladesh’, organised by the Centre for Governance Studies (CGS) at a hotel in Malibagh in the capital on Saturday.

Asked about the workload of the Foreign Ministry and the appointment of two state ministers, Shama Obaed said the ministry had handled far more work over the past six months than at any point during the previous 17 years.

“We have opened around three new wings. We are working to curb migration and irregular migration,” she said.

She said inter-ministerial focal point committees had also been formed with the ministries of expatriates’ welfare, culture, labour and commerce, which did not exist previously.

She added that Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman had been elected president of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and would remain extremely busy over the next year.

“So, for the convenience of our work and to increase its pace, we will work as a team in line with whatever decision the government takes,” she said.

Asked about the Mecca Pact, she said Bangladesh’s interests and those of its people would remain the primary considerations in deciding whether to join any multilateral organisation.

The BNP organisational secretary and state minister said the government itself would decide whether Bangladesh would join any multilateral organisation or alliance.

“If any such decision is taken, Bangladesh’s media will be the first to know about it. We have no scope to be influenced by what is reported in the media of foreign countries,” she said.