Not feeling any pressure over US envoy's visit: Foreign Minister

The government is not feeling any pressure over the upcoming visit of the US envoy to Bangladesh, said Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman. He also said Bangladesh's foreign policy is based on national interests, and improved relations with one country do not mean deteriorating relations with another.

He made the remarks while speaking to journalists at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday (July 29), in response to a question about Bangladesh's relations with China. He said, "We will never improve relations with one at the expense of another. This is not a fight between a wife and a co-wife. These are relationships based on interests; wherever our interests lie, we will go there."

The Foreign Minister said Bangladesh makes decisions in diplomacy based on reality, not conjecture.

Referring to the recent China visit as highly successful, he said the government hopes that future visits by the Prime Minister to India will also be positive.

He further informed that regular communication with the United States is ongoing. A US envoy will visit Bangladesh soon, and efforts are being made to further strengthen bilateral relations through these diplomatic engagements.

When asked whether he felt any pressure surrounding the US envoy's visit, Dr Khalilur Rahman said, "We are not feeling any pressure."

Regarding his meeting with the Indian High Commissioner, the Foreign Minister said it was a courtesy call and his first formal meeting as Foreign Minister. Although no specific issues were discussed, the two countries will work on existing bilateral matters in the future. Both sides expressed optimism about further strengthening relations, he added.