Former Foreign Minister Prof. A.K. Abdul Momen has said that the foreign policy under the interim government of Dr. Muhammad Yunus has turned Bangladesh’s traditional foreign policy upside down. It is very narrowly focused and appears dictated by specific short-term goals.
The cornerstone of Bangladesh’s foreign policy has always been “friendship towards all, malice towards none,” as enunciated by the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, he said in an exclusive interview with The Daily Republic.
“Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina built on this by adding priorities such as ‘neighbourhood first’ and extending support to neighbours. This is why she provided assistance to countries like Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, and even India during the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as financial help to Sri Lanka. Bangladesh also stood by its neighbours in international forums, such as the Commonwealth.”
He added that much of the propaganda being spread widely by the Yunus administration is largely false and unfounded. For example, claims that Bangladesh compromised its national interests with India, employed 2.6 million Indian citizens, or signed hundreds of agreements solely to benefit India are untrue.
“All agreements signed were for mutual benefit and on a reciprocal basis. By fostering this hostility, I fear we may lose the opportunity to renew the Ganges Water Sharing Agreement, which is due for renewal in 2026.
“During my tenure as Foreign Minister, I introduced three policy packages: (1) Economic Diplomacy, (2) Public Diplomacy, and (3) a Regional Peace and Stability doctrine. These were built on the foundations laid by Bangabandhu and later by Sheikh Hasina.”
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Dr. Momen stated that countries like the UAE and Singapore prospered partly due to national and regional peace and stability. In contrast, Middle Eastern countries, despite abundant natural resources, have not prospered as much due to regional conflicts. European countries enjoyed steady growth after World War II because of the absence of wars in Europe, though recent events like the Russia-Ukraine war have caused suffering for many EU nations.
He said that as a densely populated and lower-income country, Bangladesh needs rapid development to provide a decent standard of living for its people. “This is why we prioritised Economic Diplomacy, aimed at: (1) attracting diversified investment and FDI to create jobs and establish Bangladesh as a manufacturing hub; (2) increasing and diversifying exports; (3) ensuring gainful employment for citizens at home and abroad; (4) providing quality services; and (5) facilitating technology transfer.
“To achieve these goals, I introduced Public Diplomacy and established a dedicated Public Diplomacy Wing,” he said, quoting his book Foreign Policy of Bangladesh.
Dr. Momen added: “India is our largest neighbour, an emerging economic giant, and shares a 4,200km border with us. India played a crucial role in our independence in 1971, something we can never forget.
“Our policy was to maintain good relations with all neighbours, especially India. We believed regional peace and stability were essential for Bangladesh’s rapid prosperity, which is why we nurtured warm ties with India. However, under Dr. Yunus, these relations have turned hostile. The Yunus administration and its supporters are strongly anti-India, propagating the narrative that India is responsible for all of Bangladesh’s problems. There have even been claims about redrawing Bangladesh’s map to incorporate ten Indian states, including the Seven Sisters (India’s northeastern states), by force. Such propaganda has led to attacks on Indian diplomatic missions in Bangladesh and heightened hostility towards the Hindu minority.
“Reports indicate over 2,140 attacks on Hindu civilians since Yunus assumed power. In one barbaric incident, Dipu Chandra Das (also referred to as Chandan), a Hindu garment worker, was falsely accused, beaten, tied to a tree, humiliated while naked, and finally burned alive in a medieval-style execution in front of hundreds of onlookers.”
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He feared that these anti-India activities and attacks on the Hindu minority were fostering enmity and hostility between the two neighbours. It appears the Yunus government has failed to punish those responsible for such violence, leading to further incidents and misunderstandings. This hostility benefits neither country.
The former minister said that Dr. Yunus is seeking closer ties with Pakistan—India’s arch-rival—but this may not yield significant benefits for Bangladesh without careful safeguards. Pakistan faces its own economic challenges. Closer ties could push Bangladesh towards increased militarisation, diverting scarce resources to arms purchases and denying citizens a better future.
Regarding Yunus’ efforts to strengthen relations with China by purchasing more weapons and defense equipment, they risk worsening ties with the United States, whose primary focus in the region is containing China.
Dr. Momen said that there have been reports that the US supported Yunus because he allegedly agreed to allow a Command & Control Center on St. Martin’s Island. Additionally, claims suggest port facilities were leased to Western interests and a corridor granted. “However, once such concessions are made, external powers may have little long-term interest in supporting Bangladesh’s leadership.
“My concern is that Dr. Yunus might provoke a proxy war in the Indo-Pacific region to prolong his tenure in power. Such a conflict would devastate the region, which is why I emphasised my Regional Peace and Stability doctrine, supported by all neighbouring countries.”
He cited the example of President Zelenskyy in Ukraine, who postponed elections amid war.
“Achieving benefits from India through hostility is unlikely. Recall that in 1977, General Zia raised the Ganges water dispute at the UN, but India refused discussions for nearly 20 years until Sheikh Hasina withdrew it from the UN in 1996. Only then did bilateral talks lead to the mutually beneficial 1996 Ganges Water Sharing Treaty,” Dr. Momen added.
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