Foreign Ministry budget prioritises sovereignty, national interest: FM

The Foreign Ministry budget has been formulated with the highest priority given to protecting Bangladesh's sovereignty, economic growth, and the national interests of its people, Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman on Tuesday told Parliament. 

He came up with the remark responding to several opposition MPs proposals to reduce the budget of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the 2026–27 fiscal year to Tk1.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami MPs from Satkhira-4, Rangpur-1, Chattogram-16, and Chuadanga-1 constituencies spoke and proposed the retrenchment.

Highlighting  the rationale behind the proposed budget of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Foreign Minister said if the ministry's budget is reduced to Tk1 in line with the proposal, Bangladesh missions in different countries around the world will have to be closed, the red-green flag - the symbol of the country's independence and sovereignty - will have to be taken down, and all services provided to expatriates will have to be stopped.

"We will not be able to pay our annual dues as a member of the United Nations, which may result in the suspension of our membership in the United Nations," he said.

The Foreign Minister said in the current changing and geopolitically complex world order, the development and security of a state largely depend on its far-sighted and active diplomatic activities.

In today's competitive world, he said, the main driving force and goal of Bangladesh's diplomacy is "Bangladesh First," the most recent example of which is the historic visit of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to Malaysia and China.