Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Tuesday termed Chinese Ambassador Li Jiming's remarks on Quad and Dhaka “regrettable” and said that Bangladesh would decide its own foreign policy as an “independent and sovereign” country.
He also said Bangladesh is “lucky” that they have a leader like Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina who decides only what is good for the people.
Quad or Quadrilateral Security Dialogue is a US-led grouping of four countries. Japan, Australia and India are the other members. Bangladesh was not invited to join the grouping. There is no scope for others to join here as it is a quadrilateral platform. But the Chinese Ambassador on Monday, briefing diplomatic correspondents, warned that Dhaka-Beijing bilateral ties would be “substantially damaged” if Bangladesh decides to join Quad “in any form”.
He termed Quad as an “anti-China” alliance and said: “So, we don’t like to see any form of participation by Bangladesh to this small group of countries”.
Replying to that, the foreign minister told journalists on Tuesday that none approached Bangladesh to join Quad so far.
“The comment is an advanced one,” he said, adding that: “We are an independent and sovereign country. We decide our own foreign policy. But yes, any country can speak about their position. But we will do whatever benefits our people, our country”.
He also expressed his surprise to see the way Chinese envoy made the comment. “China is known for not interfering in the internal affairs of others, making the said statement regrettable to a high degree.”
“It is an advance comment since none approached us for joining Quad yet,” the foreign minister said.
The issue came to the fore last month during Chinese Defence Minister Wei Fenghe's visit to Bangladesh. He requested Bangladesh not to join Quad during his meeting with President Abdul Hamid.
The foreign minister later said that Bangladesh has no intention of joining any military alliance. “We are against joining any military alliance but we are in favour of a free and open Indian Ocean. Bangladesh wants free trade through sea routes”.
On Tuesday, he again reminded that Bangladesh maintains a non-aligned balanced foreign policy.
He, however, said no country can dictate what we can or cannot do.
“Anyone can give us advice, which we always respectfully consider. But ultimately, having regard to the interests of our people, only we have the final say on any such issue”.
The foreign minister said once the United States had asked Bangladesh for selling gas but Sheikh Hasina replied to them that Bangladesh would decide after keeping reserves for 50 years. “We are lucky that we have a leader like Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina”.