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The term FOREIGN POLICY is comprised of two words consequently foreign and policy. By
the word foreign we indicate any place or country which is situated outside of a country and the
word policy refers to principle by following which any state achieved its desired goal. Thats why
Padelford, Lincoin and Olvy mentioned that, policy is the overall result of the process by which
a state translates its broadly conceived goals and interests into specific courses of action in order
to achieve its objectives and preserve its interests. Foreign policy thus refers the policy of a
sovereign state to achieve its desired goals to the foreign countries. Bangladesh is a country of
South Asia achieved its independence in 1971 maintain a foreign policy toward the foreign states.
Here we will discuss about the foreign policy of Bangladesh.
According to Charles Burton Marshall, foreign policy indicates states implemented activities or
the activities state desires to do in international arena rather than the objectives of state.
According to James Frankel Foreign policy indicates that type of decisions or collection of
activities by any state which is involved with the relation of state or states with that state..
According to C.V, Crabbe, Foreign policy is constructed with two elements namely fixing
national goals and the medium through which the goals will be fulfilled..
So from the above discussions we can say that foreign policy refers the policy fixed by a
sovereign state to deal the relations with other states to attain it desired goals for maximizing
national interest in international arena.
3. Economic condition: Economic condition of a country vastly affects the foreign policy of a
country. If the economic condition of a country is stable than the foreign policy of a country
becomes stronger because the policy implementation is dependent on financial sponsor in a large
extent. Bangladesh is very poor in economic condition-the per capita income of Bangladesh is
$750. Thus got the LDC status in international arena and cant formulate aggressive foreign
policy
5. Military capability: Military capability fixes the character of any states foreign policy such
as whether it will be offensive or defensive. Nuclear power like the U.S.A always formulate
offensive foreign policy to achieve its interest while Bangladesh foreign policy in this aspect is
defensive because of her lower capability of being non nuclear state and also for dominated by
the powerful neighbor states such as India , Pakistan.
8. Religion: Religion is another determinant which placed its impact upon Bangladesh foreign
policy very effectively. At the beginning Bangladesh was a secular state and still it is but at the
reign of Zia ur Rahman the status was changed to the Muslim nation by the amendment of
constitution because of the will to be favored by the Muslim world. And by another amendment it
was abolished. So religious identity of the people played a very important role in the formulation
of Bangladesh foreign policy.
9. Culture and Natural Resources: By culture Bangladeshis are very peaceful and
Bangladesh foreign policy thus always effected by this. As a result Bangladesh foreign policy is
always peaceful rather than being offensive. Natural resources do not allow Bangladesh to
unplanned use because of its scarceness. So Bangladesh foreign policy needs to be more careful
about the use of her natural resources.
2.
3.
To ensure development.
4.
5.
1. To ensure national interest: Alfred Thayer Mahan once said that, self interest is not only
a legitimate but a fundamental cause for foreign policy, it is vain to expect governments to act
continuously on any other ground than national interest. Ensuring the national interest is one of
the main objectives of Bangladesh foreign policy. W.W.Rostow said that, national interest is the
conception which nations apply in trying to influence the world environment in their advantage.
it is states ultimate goal to achieve in any way. Thats why British Prime Minister Lord
Palmerstone once said that, we have no eternal allies and we have no perpetual enemies. Our
interests are eternal and perpetual and those interests it is our duty to follow. keeping this
keywords in mind Bangladesh foreign policy makers give national interest the highest priority.
2. To ensure national security: National security has two dimensions namely internal and
external. By the internal dimension we understand the political and economic stability in
domestic sphere. It means there is no turbulent situation in Bangladesh domestic sphere. on the
other side by the external security we understand the preservation of Bangladesh sovereignty
from the external enemies. When policy makers formulate foreign policy they keep this matter
and make the policy.
3. To ensure the development: Nationwide development is another agenda of Bangladesh
foreign policy. So when foreign policy is formulated then it is followed that how development
will be generated and for that what type of aid or grant is needed and how it can be attained from
whom. By considering all these foreign policy of Bangladesh is formulated.
unity among the NAM states and she also want the more strengthen NAM with the other states.
This ideology Bangladesh wants to keep alive by her foreign polic
1. Friendship to all and malice towards none: Bangladesh being a very poor country is
dependent on the foreign aid vastly which is provided by the states with various ideologies. Thats
why Bangladesh is not willing to support any big power blindly because that will make her bad to
the others and as being a less powerful state Bangladesh dont expect herself at that situation.
Thats why the prominent leader of the nation Sheikh Mujibur Rahman said that, we are a small
country. we want friendship to all and malice towards none.
3. Non interval in the domestic matter of any state: Article 2(7) of the UN charter
mentioned that, Nothing contained in the present Charter shall authorize the United
Nations to intervene in matters which are essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of
any state or shall require the Members to submit such matters to settlement under the
present Charter; but this principle shall not prejudice the application of enforcement
measure. As a member of united nations Bangladesh included this policy to her principle of foreign policy
successfully which gives assudences to other about Bangladesh friendly respectful character without any
doubt.
4. World peace: Bangladesh want peace in international arena thats why it formulated world
peace as one of the basic principles of her foreign policy as it is also related to her national
security and development, thats why Emajuddin ahmed noted that, Bangladesh desires peace
not only for the sake of peace but also for the strategic consideration of national development and
security. There are various significances of this principles such as Bangladesh believes in
peaceful co-operation, peaceful settlement of conflicts and peaceful changes in international
arena. Bangladesh in this aspect will never create any threat for international peace.
Conclusion:
In the end of the discussion we can conclude that foreign policy of Bangladesh is not still a strong
one though being very dynamic in recent years which is reflected on the sea boundary issue with
the India and Myanmar. It is also reflected in the COP-15 conference held in Copenhagen,
Denmark-where Bangladesh protested the greatest powers of the world by diplomacy with the
other LDC states by demanding a sum for the reparations of the environment degradation. So at
last if can be expected that in the near future Bangladesh foreign policy will be strongest one
which will associate to improve her status in international arena.
References:
Book:
I.
20/11/2010 at 8.14 pm
15, 2008
II.
available at http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=140346
12.15 am 20/11/2010
available at http://www.un.org/en/documents/charter/chapter1.shtml last cited at
12.17 am 20/11/2010
Internet:
https://www.academia.edu/376518/Foreign_policy_of_Bangladesh_a_very_simpl
e_idea