‘His vision shaped our country’s foreign policy’

Bangabandhu's dynamism and farsightedness shaped the foreign policy visions of Bangladesh, said speakers at a webinar as part of the celebrations of Mujib Year.

The webinar titled "Foreign Policy Visions of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman" was organised by Bangladesh Permanent Mission to the United Nations, New York in collaboration with the Subir and Malini Chowdhury Center for Bangladesh Studies, University of California, Berkeley on Monday, said a press release.

"Bangabandhu was ideologically very upright, yet essentially pragmatic to uphold the best interest of his country. He, therefore, decided to pursue a neutral foreign policy based on universal values and principles," said Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen.

Noted author and journalist Salil Tripathi; senior diplomat and friends of Bangladesh Liberation War honoree Tom A Dine; and Bangabandhu Chair, Bangladesh University of Professionals Prof Dr Syed Anwar Husain, were panelists.

Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to UN Rabab Fatima delivered welcome remarks.

The foreign minister reiterated the historic dictum of Bangabandhu,  "Friendship towards all, and malice towards none" as the bedrock of  Bangladesh's foreign policy.

Salil Tripathi lauded Bangabandhu for advocating "inclusive  nationalism", rooted in the 1952 Language Movement.

Tom Dine shed light on the political climate in the US during the 1971 war and lauded Bangladesh for proving  the then US leadership wrong through development and  progress in 50 years' time.