Opposition Proposes Tk 1 Budget for Foreign Ministry
Collected Photo
Opposition MPs have proposed reducing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' budget for fiscal year 2026-27 to Tk 1 through a cut motion. They placed the proposal on Tuesday in the National Parliament when MPs presented the ministry’s demand for grants for a vote.
In response, Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman said, “If the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ budget is reduced to Tk 1 as proposed in the cut motion, Bangladesh will have to shut down its embassies in different countries around the world. At the same time, we will have to lower the red-and-green flag that symbolizes our independence and sovereignty. All services provided to Bangladeshi expatriates will come to a halt.”
“As a member of the United Nations, Bangladesh will also be unable to pay its annual contribution. As a result, the country could face the risk of having its UN membership suspended,” he added.
The foreign minister said, “In the current evolving and geopolitically complex global order, a country’s development and security depend largely on its far-sighted and proactive diplomatic engagement.”
He said that in today’s competitive world, the driving force and primary objective of Bangladesh’s diplomacy is ‘Bangladesh First.’ He cited the prime minister’s historic visits to Malaysia and China as recent examples. The government has formulated this budget with the highest priority given to safeguarding Bangladesh’s sovereignty, sustaining economic growth, and protecting the national interests of its people.
