University of Dhaka

Department of Marketing

POLITICAL ADMINISTRATION & LEGAL

ENVIRONMENT 0F BANGLADESH
Course name: Bangladesh Studies
Course code :115

1
 Submitted to :
Koushik Prashad Pathak

Lecturer

Department of Marketing

University of Dhaka

Submitted by :
Group Name: HARBINGERS

Group No :9

1st Year 1st Semester

Department of Marketing

University of Dhaka

2
 GROUP MEMBERS:
Roll no. Name
zzSrl.no.
1 64 Dipta Saha
2 70 Mohammad Mofazzal hossain
3 88 Sabikun Nahar Bipasha (G.L.)
4 120 Naima Sultana Anonna
5 124 Irin Akter keya
6 126 Habibul Alam
7 130 Zannatul Ferdous Moury
8 150 Md. Abdullah
9 196 Tasnuva Jahan (Juthee)

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Srl no. Contents Page no.

1 Political parties of Bangladesh 3
2 Ideology 6
3 Foreign Relations 11
4 Evaluation of Foreign policy in 14
Different regimes
5 Conclusion 20

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 Political Parties in Bangladesh
Bangladesh has a fading two-party system, which means that there are two
dominant political parties, with extreme difficulty for anybody to achieve electoral
success under the banner of another party.

However, though the center-left Awami League and center-right BNP dominated
Bangladesh politics for a long time, currently both are heading coalitions of like-minded
parties with the AL leading the secular and liberal elements while BNP is rallying the
right-of-centre parties.

There are many political parties in Bangladesh. There we defined them.They are

Parliamentary parties

Bangladesh Awami League

Bangladesh Nationalist Party

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami

Bangladesh Jatiya Party-BJP

Jomiete Ulama-e-Islam Bangladesh

Communist Party of Bangladesh

Socialist Party of Bangladesh (SPB)

Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati

Samiti (PCJSS)

Khilafat Majlis

Liberal Democratic Party

Islamic Unity Front (Islami Oikya Jote)

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 Islami Oikya Jote (En. Islamic National Unity Front)

Jatiya Party - Hussain Muhammad Ershad (En.

National Party)

Jatiyo Samajtantrik Dal-JSD

Jatiyo Samajtantrik Dal

Bangladesh National Awami Party (Bangladesh

NAP)

National Party (Manju) (Jatiya Dal (Manju))

Peasants' and Workers' People's League (Krishak

Sramik Janata League)

Gonotantry Party (President: Mohammad Afzal,

General Secretary: Nurur Rahman Salim)

Islami Andolaon Bangladesh

Bangladesh democratic party

Bangladesh Representative Party (BRP)

Bangladesh Janata Party (BJP)

Bikolpo Dhara Bangladesh

Bangladesh Peoples's Democratic Party (BPDP)

United Bengal Liberation Army (President: Colonel

Morshed, General Secretary: Major Sonjoy)

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 Other parties

Hridoy Manush (Minhaz Elahi Islam-Mati)

Ganosamhati Andolon

Hizb ut-Tahrir

Liberal Party Bangladesh

United Bengal Liberation Movement

Nagorik Shakti

Jonokollan (Peoples Welfare) Party

There we are showing a picture. This is related with politics of Bangladesh:

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Ideology

The Bangladesh Awami League styles itself as the leader of the "pro-liberation" forces in
Bangladesh, promoting secular and social democratic sections of the political establishment in
the country which played the leading role during the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971. The
party constitution states, and in two cases defines the reason for, four fundamental principles in
guiding its philosophy and policies. They include-

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 Democracy, Republican system with representation of people

Socialism, Establishing an exploitation-free society and social justice

Secularism, Non-communal politics and separation of religion and public life

Bengali nationalism, Protection of Bangladesh's identity as a Nation state for

Bengali people

The four principles are similar to those of the original Four State Principles in Bangladesh's
constitution which included nationalism, secularity, democracy and socialism.

Prior to the 2008 general elections in Bangladesh, the Awami League announced in its manifesto,
its "Vision 2021" and "Digital Bangladesh" action plans to transform Bangladesh into a fast
developing Middle Income Country by 2021. The party also uses the term "Shonar Bangla", or
golden Bengal, to describe its vision for Bangladesh to become a modern developed nation. The
term is reminiscent of Bangladesh's national anthem and a utopian vision in Bengali nationalism.

History

The history of the Bangladesh Awami League falls into three distinct eras:

The Early Pakistan Era, when the party championed the rights of the Bengali
people in Pakistan;

The Movement for Independence, when the party led the forces of Bengali
nationalism in establishing a sovereign state;

The Post Independence Era, when the party is a major player in Bangladeshi
politics and often suffered volatile experiences.

Early Pakistan Era

On 14 August 1947 the partition of British India saw the establishment of the Muslim state of
Pakistan on the basis of the Two-Nation Theory. The new country comprised two wings,
separated by 1000 miles of Indian territory, in the Indian Subcontinent. The western wing
consisted of the provinces of Punjab, Sindh, North West Frontier Province and Balochistan,

8
while the province of East Bengal constituted the eastern wing. From the onset of independence,
Pakistan was led by its founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah and his Muslim League party.

In 1948, there was rising agitation in East Bengal against the omission of Bengali script from
coins, stamps and government exams. Thousands of students, mainly from the University of
Dhaka, protested in Dhaka and clashed with security forces. Prominent student leaders including
Shamsul Huq, Khaleque Nawaz khan, shawkat Ali Kazi Golam Mahboob, Oli Ahad, Sheikh
Mujibur Rahman and Abdul Wahed were arrested and the police were accused of excessive
brutality while charging protesters. In March, senior Bengali political leaders were attacked
whilst leading protests demanding that Bengali be declared an official language in Pakistan. The
leaders included the A. K. Fazlul Huq, the former Prime Minister of undivided Bengal.

Amidst the rising discontent in East Bengal, Jinnah visited Dhaka and announced that Urdu
would be sole state language of Pakistan given its significance to Islamic nationalism in South
Asia. The announcement caused uproar in East Bengal, where the native Bengali population
resented Jinnah for his attempts to impose a language they hardly understood. The resentment
was further fueled by rising discrimination against Bengalis in government, industry,
bureaucracy and the armed forces and the dominance of the Muslim League. The Bengalis
argued that they constituted the ethnic majority of Pakistan's population and Urdu was remote to
the land of Bengal, located in the eastern Indian Subcontinent. Moreover, the rich literary
heritage of the Bengali language and the deep rooted secular culture of Bengali society led to a
strong sense of linguistic and cultural nationalism amongst the people of East Bengal. Against
this backdrop, Bengali nationalism began to take root within the Muslim League and the party's
Bengali members began to rebel.

All Pakistan Awami Muslim League

On 23 June 1949, Bengali nationalists from East Bengal broke away from the Muslim League,
Pakistan's dominant political party, and established the All Pakistan Awami Muslim League. The
party was founded at the Rose Garden mansion in the old part of Dhaka. Maulana Abdul Hamid
Khan Bhashani and Shamsul Huq were elected the first President and General Secretary of the
party respectively, while Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad and A. K. Rafiqul
Hussain were elected the party's first Joint Secretaries. The party was formed to champion the
rights of masses in Pakistan against the powerful feudal establishment led by the Muslim

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League. However, due to its strength stemming from the discriminated Bengali population of
Pakistan's eastern wing, the party eventually became associated and identified with East Bengal.

In 1952, the Awami Muslim League and its student wing played an instrumental role in the
Bengali Language Movement, during which Pakistani security forces fired upon thousands of
protesting students demanding Bengali be declared an official language of Pakistan and famously
killing a number of students including Abdus Salam, Rafiq Uddin Ahmed, Abul Barkat and
Abdul Jabbar. The events of 1952 are widely seen by historians today as a turning point in the
history of Pakistan and the Bengali people, as it was the starting point of the Bengali nationalist
struggle that eventually culminated in the creation of Bangladesh in 1971.

In 1953, the party's council meeting voted to drop the word "Muslim" from its name in order to
give it a more secular outlook, owing to need of including the province's large Hindu population
in Pakistani politics.

United Front
In the run-up to the East Bengal Legislative Assembly Elections in 1954, the Awami League took
the lead in negotiations in forming a pan-Bengali political alliance including the Krishak Praja
Party, Nizam-e-Islam and Ganatantri Dal. The alliance was termed the Jukta Front or United
Front and formulated the Ekush Dafa, or 21-point Charter, to fight the Muslim League. The party
also took the historic decision to adopt the traditional Bengali boat, which signified the
attachment to rural Bengal, as its election symbol.

The election swept the United Front coalition into power in East Bengal with a massive mandate
of 223 seats out of 237 seats. The Awami League itself bagged 143 seats while the Muslim
League won only 9 seats. Veteran student leader and language movement stalwart Khaleque
Nawaz Khan defeated incumbent prime minister of the then East Bengal Mr. Nurul Amin in a
landslide margin. Mr. Nurul Amin was defeated in his home Nandail constituency. Khaleque
Nawaz Khan created history at age 27 by defeating sitting prime minister and Muslim Leaague
was wiped out from political landscape of the then East Pakistan. A. K. Fazlul Huq assumed the
office of Chief Minister of East Bengal and drew up a cabinet containing many of the prominent

10
student activists that were leading movements against the Pakistani state. They included Sheikh
Mujibur Rahman from the Awami League, who served as commerce minister.

Leaders of the new provincial government demanded greater provincial autonomy for East
Bengal and eventually succeeded in pressuring Prime Minister Muhammad Ali Bogra, himself a
Bengali, to endorse the proposed constitutional recognition of Bengali as an official language of
Pakistan. The United Front also passed a landmark order for the establishment of the Bangla
Academy in Dhaka. As tensions with the western wing grew due to the demands for greater
provincial autonomy in East Bengal, Governor-General Ghulam Muhammad dismissed the
United Front government on 29 May 1954 under Article 92/A of the provisional constitution of
Pakistan.

Tenure in central government

In September 1956, the Awami League formed a coalition with the Republican Party to secure a
majority in the new National Assembly of Pakistan and took over the central government. Awami
League President Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy became the Prime Minister of Pakistan.
Suhrawardy pursued a reform agenda to reduce the long-standing economic disparity between
East and West Pakistan, greater representation of Bengalis in the Pakistani civil and armed
services and he unsuccessfully attempted to alleviate the food shortage in the country.

The Awami League also began deepening relations with the United States. The government
moved to join the Southeast Asia Treaty Organisation (SEATO) and Central Treaty Organisation
(CENTO), the two strategic defense alliances in Asia inspired by the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization (NATO). Maulana Bhashani, one of the party's founders, condemned the decision
of the Suhrawardy government and called a conference in February 1957 at Kagmari in East
Bengal. He protested the move and the support lent by the Awami League leadership to the
government. Bhashani broke away from the Awami League and then formed the leftist National
Awami Party (NAP).

The controversy over One Unit (the division of Pakistan into only two provinces, east and west)
and the appropriate electoral system for Pakistan, whether joint or separate, also revived as soon
as Suhrawardy became Prime Minister. In West Pakistan, there was strong opposition to the joint
electorate by the Muslim League and the religious parties. The Awami League however, strongly

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supported the joint electorate. These differences over One Unit and the appropriate electorate
caused problems for the government. By early 1957, the movement for the dismemberment of
the One Unit had started. Suhrawardy was at the mercy of central bureaucracy fighting to save
the One Unit. Many in the business elite in Karachi were lobbying against Suhrawardy's decision
to distribute millions of dollars of American aid to East Pakistan and to set up a national shipping
corporation. Supported by these lobbyists, President Iskander Mirza demanded the Prime
Minister's resignation. Suhrawardy requested to seek a vote of confidence in the National
Assembly, but this request was turned down. Suhrawardy resigned under threat of dismissal on
October 10, 1957.

Ayub Khan coup and martial law

On 7 October 1958 President Iskander Mirza declared martial law and appointed army chief
General Ayub Khan as Chief Martial Law Administrator. Ayub Khan eventually deposed Mirza
in a bloodless coup. By promulgating the Political Parties Elected Bodies Disqualified
Ordinance, Ayub banned all major political parties in Pakistan. Senior politicians, including the
entire top leadership of the Awami League, were arrested and most were kept under detention till
1963.

In 1962, Ayub Khan drafted a new constitution, modeled on indirect election, through an
electoral college, and termed it 'Basic Democracy'. Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy joined Nurul
Amin, Khwaja Nazimuddin, Maulvi Farid Ahmed and Hamidul Haq Chowdhury in forming
National Democratic Front against Ayub Khan's military-backed rule and to restore elective
democracy. However the alliance failed to obtain any concessions. Instead the electoral colleges
appointed a new parliament and the President exercised executive authority.

Widespread discrimination prevailed in Pakistan against Bengalis during the regime of Ayub
Khan. The University of Dhaka became a hotbed for student activism advocating greater rights
for Bengalis and the restoration of democracy in Pakistan.

On 5 December 1963 Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy was found dead in his hotel room in Beirut,
Lebanon. His sudden death under mysterious circumstances gave rise to speculation within the
Awami League and the general population in East Pakistan that he had been poisoned.

Foreign Relations

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The image of an independent and sovereign state depends on its foreign
relations or foreign policy. However, these relations are considered important
to a country, are subject to change for the sake of the countrys interests.
Bangladesh has pursued its foreign relations or foreign policy since its
emergence as an independent state in 1971, although the policy underwent
remarkable changes during the last 39 years. The provisional government
formed during the Liberation War drew up an outline of the foreign relations
of Bangladesh before the country came into being as an independent state.
According to this outline Bangladesh declared the principles of non-
alignment, peaceful coexistence, and opposition to colonialism, racialism and
imperialism as the main aspects of its foreign policy. Bangladesh emerging
quite late in the International scene, has remained busy defining its role and
determining its objective from different perspectives. But different regime its
foreign policy has changed by the different formula and ideology. Because
from the birth of BD has dependent on different people roles, which are
changing the motto of BD foreign policy in different time of their own wish.
Such as, Sheikh Mujib government foreign policy and Ziaur Rahman
government foreign policy were not because of their ideology or person
interest.

The foreign policy population has been clearly articulated in Bangladesh by

now and everyone knows where we stand. (Emajuddin, 2004), the foreign
policy of Bangladesh is tied closely to the realities of its economic condition.
Since independence the country has required a great deal of foreign
assistance in the effort to keep its people fed and to build, for the first time,
a modern society. Under these circumstances, it has been important for
successive regimes to seek good relations with all nations and to attract
economic aid from every possible source. Bangladesh has therefore
cultivated good relations with both the United States and the Soviet Union,
and their respective allies, but it has remained unaligned with either
superpower. In an attempt to stimulate regional development plans,
Bangladesh has been instrumental in organizing regional economic
cooperation in South Asia. It has also been active in international
organizations, especially in those dedicated to solving the economic
problems of the poorer countries of the world. Foreign policy of Bangladesh is

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desires peace not only for the sake of peace but also for the strategic
consideration of national development and security. But sometimes its
wrong on implementation, because in BD different political regime has
implied different role. So

Bangladesh foreign policy is changing foreign policy, in given below I will

extent about Bangladesh foreign policy in different political regime.

Concept about Foreign Policy: Foreign Policy refers methods or policies

which are formulated to maintaining relations with international communities
as well as protecting national interests. Prusian statesman Price Otto Von
Bismark said,The extension of domestic policy is foreign policy. The main
objective of foreign policy is achieving own interest and upholding national
ideology.

Evolution of Foreign Policy Of Bangladesh

The foreign policy of Bangladesh is based on the Non-Alignment Movement
(NAM). From early of independent Bangladesh followed a principle in her
foreign policy that, Friendship to all, malice to none. Bangladesh has
consistently pursued an independent non- aligned foreign policy promoting
friendship with all countries of the world on the basis of mutual respect for
sovereignty, equality, territorial integrity and non interference in the
international affairs of others states.(Ministry of foreign affairs,1979)
Bangladesh desires peace not only for the sake of peace but also for the
strategic consideration of national development and security.

The government has provided a mission statement reflecting this, and

is a guide on which its foreign policy is conducted. It is;

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1. The State shall base its international relations on the principles of respect
for national sovereignty and equality, non-interference in the internal affairs
of other countries, peaceful settlements of international disputes, and
respect for international law and the principles enunciated in the United
Nations Charter, and on the basis of those principles shall-
a) Strive for the renunciation of the use of force in international relations and
for general and complete disarmament;
b) Uphold the right of every people freely to determine and build up its own
social, economic and political system by ways and means of its own free
choice; and

c) Support oppressed peoples throughout the world waging a just struggle

against imperialism colonialism or racialism.
2) The State shall endeavor to consolidate, preserve and strengthen fraternal
relations among Muslim countries based on Islamic solidarity.
The Constitution embodies the basic principles of foreign Policy; that says,
the state shall base its international relations on the principles of respect for
national sovereignty and equality, non-interference in the internal affairs of
other countries, peaceful settlement of international disputes and respect for
international laws and principles as enunciated in the United Nations Charter.

Constitutional provisions and declaration on foreign

policy in Bangladesh
The Constitution provides that the foreign policy of Bangladesh would be
guided by a number of fundamental principles. These principles were stated
in the Articles 25(a), (b) and (c) of the Constitution. These are as follows: The
State shall base its international relations on the principles of respect for
national sovereignty and equality, non-interference in the internal affairs of
other countries, peaceful settlement of international disputes, and respect

15
for international law and the principles enunciated in the United Nations
Charter, and on the basis of those principles shall (a) strive for the
renunciation of the use of force in international relations and for general and
complete disarmament; (b) uphold the right of every people freely to
determine and build up its own social, economic and political system by
ways and means of its own free choice; and (c) support oppressed peoples
throughout the world waging a just struggle against imperialism, colonialism
or racialism.

Dimensions of Relations of Foreign Policy of Bangladesh

When Bangladesh was freedom from Pakistan at that time was polarization
which time in the world are divided into two centric, one side was USA and
another was USSR. After Second World War one country depend on other
country, its greatly growth. In BD after independence have recognized from
various country such as, USA, UK, India, USSR. But one time relation with
other state was good but now its not good as like Russia and Bangladesh
relations. Its like a broken and making policy relation in different time or
regime.

Evaluation of Foreign Policy in Different Regimes

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As Bangladesh is dependable to international aid; so, she always tries to
promote her foreign relation. Although foreign policy of Bangladesh is based
on friendship, but strategies were changed in various regimes. These are as
follows-

Mujibs Regime (1971-1975): After independent Sheikh Mujib returned

from Pakistan jail. First of all he emphasized on the reconstruction of the
country as well as achieving international recognition as an independent
state.In dealing with external actors, Sheikh Mujib had to follow a similar
policy of balancing the various groups. During the Liberation War, India and
Eastern blocks countries supported Bangladesh. In the months immediately
following independence, they remained the staunchest allies. A twenty five
year Peace and Friendship treaty was signed with India in March 1972. But
Bangladesh also pursued friendly relations with the Western block countries
who quickly became the major source of humanitarian and economic
assistance.(Rounaq,2000), He also took some initiatives. Such as-
Returning of refugees and ensuring shelter for them.
Reconstruction devastated economy.
Collecting weapons from freedom fighters which are used in war.
Send back Indian soldiers to their own country.
Sheikh Mujib tried to maintain close relation with those countries who helped
Bangladesh in the time of war. He made a good relation with USSR. He was
very grateful to India.

Successes of Mujibs regime: Sheikh Mujib was able to achieving concern

of international community about Bangladesh. India recognized Bangladesh
on 6th December and Bhutan recognized on 7th December in 1971. In the
mujibs period East European socialist countries recognized Bangladesh. For
his adroitness India take back their soldiers by 16 March in 1972. He played a
vital rule to making a close relation with UN.

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Sheikh Mujib is the Pioneer of foreign policy of Bangladesh. He also tried to
expand foreign relation to world community, but some deviated generals of
army killed him with his family in 15 August 1975.

The Zia Regime (1975-79): After the assassination of Sheikh

Mujib, Khondoker Mustaq Ahmed, a Cabinet Minister of sheikh mujib
government took power but it did not last long. There was a counter-coup on
3rd November, 1975 in which Khondoker Mustaq was removed from power.
On the 7th November 1975, After many ups and downs General Zia took the
throne. First of all he brought back discipline among the soldiers. Then he
looked forward. In the opinion of many observers, Zia, although ruthless with
his opponents, was the nations best leader since independence. A dapper
military officer, he transformed himself into a charismatic and popular
political figure. Once described as having an air of serene hesitancy and
assured authority, Zia had boundless energy and spent much of his time
traveling throughout the country. Zia preached the politics of hope,
continually urging all Bangladeshis to work harder and to produce more.
Unlike Mujib, Zia utilized whatever talent he could muster to spur on the
economy, and he did not discriminate, as Mujib had, against civil servants
who had not fully participated in the freedom struggle. Zia was a well-known
figure who first emerged nationally during the independence struggle. Zia
also tried to integrate the armed forces, giving repatriates a status
appropriate to their qualifications and seniority. This angered some of the
freedom fighters, who had rapidly reached high positions. Zia deftly dealt
with the problem officers by sending them on diplomatic missions abroad.
Zia made repatriate Major General Hussain Muhammad Ershad the deputy
army chief of staff. Having consolidated his position in the army, Zia became
president on April 21, 1977, when Sayem resigned on the grounds of ill
health. Zia now held the dominant positions in the country and seemed to
be supported by a majority of Bangladeshis.

18
One of the most important tasks Zia faced was to change the direction of the
country. Zia altered the Constitutions ideological statement on the
fundamental principles, in particular changing the Mujibist emphasis on
secularism to complete trust and faith in almighty Allah. While
distancing Bangladesh from India, Zia sought to improve ties with other
Islamic nations, particularly Saudi Arabia. The work opportunities for migrant
labor in Muslim countries were an incentive for developing such friendly
relations. Similarly friendly relationship with the west. A major source of
foreign aid, was emphasized and indeed the volume of foreign aid increased
significantly.(Rounaq,2000) Throughout his regime, Zia pursued an active
foreign policy, and the legacy of his efforts continued to bear fruit in the late
1980s. In 1980 Zia proposed a conference for the seven nations of the
subcontinent (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri
Lanka) to discuss the prospects for regional cooperation in a number of
fields. This initiative was successful in August 1983 when the South Asian
Association for Regional Cooperation was established. In the regime
of the most development of foreign policy were
Relations with the Islamic or Muslim World.
Relations with the Chaina.
Relations with the India in different bilateral issues.As- Gangass issue,
South Talporti Island issue, Problem of Tin Biga Coridor, Sea boundary
problem in the Bay of Bengal.
After August 1975, there was a seismic shift in bilateral relations with India.
Meanwhile China and Saudi Arabia recognized Bangladesh after the
assassination of Sheikh Mujib and were prepared role to play in Bangladesh
and President Zia put more emphasizes on its relation with China, Islamic
and Western Countries and moved away from Indo-Soviet axis.(Harun,2004),
Zia was assassinated in Chittagong on May 30, 1981, in a plot allegedly
masterminded by Major General Manzur, the army commander in
Chittagong.

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 Ershad Regime (1982-1990): After Zia regime General Ershad took the
throne in 24th March 1982. In the foreign policy he followed the methods of
his previous President Zia. General Ershad tried to make very close relation
to Muslim Community especially with Middle East countries. This is the fact
for degradation of the relation with USSR. In 1983, fourteen diplomats of
USSR expelled in Bangladesh.

President Ershad emphasized on the political and military relation with China.
He nourished obstinate relation with India. For his diplomatic weakness some
issues were unresolved. Such as- South Talpotty, Returning of Indigenous
People, Farakka project etc.
Ershad was able to making a good relation with occidental. For a rapport
America helped Bangladesh in 1987and 1988 in natural calamity.

Khaleda Zia regime (1991-1996): After the falling of

General Ershad, Begum Khaleda Zia took the throne by election. She
followed her husband in foreign relation. The characteristics of her foreign
policy was
Promoting relation with United States.
1. Making rapport with China.
2. Making close relation with Muslim World.
3. To make SAARC as an effective organization.

20
4. Maintaining good relation with India.
5. To increase investment.
6. Emphasize on economic diplomacy.
Begum Zia visited China, India for promoting economic and commercial
relation. She talked over unresolved issues with India. She also visited
Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan, Italy, South Korea etc. for foreign investment in
Bangladesh.
Successes of Khaleda Zia regime:
Sending Peace Keeping Force in UN from Bangladesh.
Playing a vital role in SAPTA Treaty.
Playing an effective role on exporting human resources.
To accelerate CHT accord. ( although CHT accord was signed at
Hasinas regime)
To get lease Tin Bigha Corridor by contacting with India.
To sign MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) with Myanmar on
Rohingiyas issue.

Sheikh Hasina regime (1996-2000): Sheikh Hasina elected

Prime Minister in 1996. She followed some method in foreign policy. Such as-
Resolving bilateral problem with neighboring countries.
Economic diplomacy.
Commercial investment.
Upholding national ideologies.
Promoting friendship .
Implementing CHT accord in june02,1997.etc.

In 2000 Bangladesh achieved ICC test status. In Hasinas regime Prime

Minister of India H. D. Debgoura, Pelestines President Iasir Arafat, Nelson
Mendela, Bil Clinton visited Bangladesh to promoting foreign relation.

21
 Khaleda Zia Regime (2001-2006): Khaleda Zia elected as
Prime Minister again in 2001. She followed her previous foreign policy and
tried to promoting these. She tried to lessen border collision between BDR
and BSF. Pakistan President Parvez Mosharraf visited Bangladesh to
promoting commercial relation. Begum Zia visited China, Thailand, Vietnam,
Myanmar, Singapore, Malaysia and United States to promoting bilateral
relations.

Caretaker Government (2006-2008): Thats time in Bangladesh has

faced vulnerable situation. In time in Bangladesh has no relation with
another country, No treaty or bilateral relations has organized of this two
years.

Sheikh Hasina Regime (2009-2011): Hasina government

has mobilized of his prior foreign policy, specially relationship with India has
develop increasingly, such as-
Transit treaty with India and Bandesh.
Border security with India
Tista river conflict with India.etc.

An Ideology Influence on Foreign Policy in Bangladesh:

22
In Bangladesh there have different criteria which have influence on foreign
policy, such as-
Awami League government main policy is secularism, so its time India and
Secularist countries relations are good then the Muslim Countries.
On the other hand, BNP is rightist and nationalist, so thats time we see
the relationship are good with Muslim Countries then the India or other
secularist countries.

When AL get power in BD, that time India relationship with BD is so much
good of another regime in BD, which we are following at present
government, but migrant of labor to Middle East has less, lack of foreign
policy assumption.

Evaluation of Bangladesh Foreign Policy

With the changing of time, the nature of foreign policy of Bangladesh has
changed. The foreign policy of Bangladesh is connected to its dire domestic
and economic position. The extreme poverty that engulfs many Bangladeshis
limits the capability of the government to act on the global stage, as priority
is that people need to be fed. However, these conditions also make it
important for successive political regimes to maintain good relations with all
nations and to attract economic aid from every possible source. Bangladesh
has therefore very friendly relations with global superpowers such as the
U.S.A. and Japan, but it does not take sides as to not make enemies.
Bangladesh has been key to arranging regional economic cooperation in
South Asia, which has stimulated domestic economic growth. It has also
been active in international organizations, especially in those designed to
solve the problems of the poorest people of the world. Despite its vast
poverty and relatively small military capability, Bangladesh has not hesitated
to defend its sovereignty and to take strong stands on many international
issues. Any hint that India might try to intimidate Bangladesh has provoked a
fierce response. Furthermore, Bangladesh has irritated.

23
Powerful nations by standing against them on various major issues, and
relations with both the United States and the former Soviet Union have gone
through difficult periods. Bangladesh has also looked to maintain its Islamic
identity, has encouraged very friendly relations, and has attempted to build a
worldwide Muslim community with other Islamic nations. These friendly
relations it has enjoyed with Islamic nations have led to the receipt of
economic aid from wealthy Arab countries.
As an active participant of the UN, the Non-Aligned Movement, the OIC, the
Commonwealth and various international organizations, Bangladesh has
been a part of global politics. Bangladesh led the formation of SAARC-a
regional co-operation forum comprising seven South Asian countries-
Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
Bangladesh has also tried to enhance economic co-operation in the region,
which led to the formation and implementation of SAPTA or South Asian
Preferential Trading Arrangement.
Conclusion
Bangladesh has a very pro-active foreign policy, despite its domestic
problems and extreme poverty. Regionally it has been instrumental in
securing economic growth and in arranging trade agreements. Globally
Bangladesh has been active in its support for certain agendas, especially
those that help the worlds poorest people. The phenomenon of Global
warming and Globalization are also set to have a colossal effect on
Bangladesh so the nation has been adjusting its foreign policy to solve these
problems.
The Islamic identity of Bangladesh means that it has close relations with
other Islamic nations, and its past as a colony of the British Empire has
resulted in very close relations with Britain as well as membership of the
commonwealth. Bangladesh does not accept dominance by other nations,
but will aim to maintain friendly relations with the worlds most powerful
nations to stimulate domestic economic growth and improve the poverty
stricken situation of its people. If necessary, Bangladesh will not hesitate to

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defend its rights, and has fiercely responded to aggression by India in the
past. The genocide committed by the Pakistan army during 1971 has not
been largely forgotten but mostly forgiven, and relations between Pakistan
and Bangladesh are strong. Bangladesh also has good relations with China.
The main issues facing Bangladesh currently are Global warming, and the
security situation in the region with tensions between China, Pakistan, India
and Bangladesh. The War on Terror has not bypassed Bangladesh either; the
U.S. has monitored the complaints from India that there are terrorism camps
in Bangladesh.

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