‘There’s a lot of work’: Shama Obaed on two state ministers at Foreign Ministry
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Regarding the appointment of two state ministers alongside a minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Shama Obaed said there is a lot of work at the Foreign Ministry. She said the government will work according to whatever decision is taken to facilitate the ministry’s work and accelerate government activities.
Dr. Khalilur Rahman is currently serving as the Foreign Minister. Shama Obaed Islam is serving as the state minister for Foreign Affairs. Meanwhile, the government issued a notification last Friday appointing Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Minister Humayun Kabir as the state minister for Foreign Affairs. The ministry now has a total of three ministers and state ministers. State Minister Shama Obaed made these remarks in response to questions from journalists on the matter.
She made the remarks on Saturday at a dialogue titled “Strengthening Young Women’s Political Leadership and Restoring Democratic Space in Bangladesh.” The event was jointly organized by the Centre for Governance Studies (CGS) and the German based political foundation Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES).
Regarding having two state ministers at the Foreign Ministry, Shama Obaed said, “In the six months since the February election, our ministry has done much more work than at any time in the past 17 years. Personally, I have opened three new wings here. We are working on migration. We are working to stop illegal migration. In the meantime, we have formed several interministerial focal point group committees with the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare, the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Labour and the Ministry of Commerce that never existed before. We have done these things. I have done these things.”
Regarding the two state ministers, Shama Obaed said, “Of course, in response to your question, I have to say that there is a lot of work at the Foreign Ministry. Our Foreign Minister has won the UNGA presidency. He will be extremely busy over the next year. Therefore, to facilitate the ministry’s work and accelerate government activities, we will work according to whatever decision the government takes.”
“He (Humayun Kabir) has been working as the Foreign Affairs Minister and even earlier, when we were in the opposition, he worked on foreign affairs. Of course, he has that experience. We believe that if we can work together in a coordinated manner, the multilateral activities of our Foreign Ministry will move forward with greater importance,” the state minister added.
Regarding the Mecca Defense Pact, which is currently being discussed in diplomatic circles, Shama Obaed told journalists, “After the BNP formed the government, Bangladesh or policy comes first in foreign policy. Whether we will join any pact or multilateral body, whether the interests of Bangladesh and the interests of the people are being protected, will be the first consideration.”
Asked whether Bangladesh is participating in the Mecca Defense Pact, the state minister said, “I cannot say at this moment. However, before Bangladesh joins any multilateral body, the first thing we will see is whether our interests are being compromised.”
