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Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman on Wednesday said Bangladesh would no longer remain a “client state” of any country, describing an independent foreign policy as one of the government’s foremost diplomatic priorities.
Speaking as the chief guest at a programme marking July Uprising Day 2026 at the Foreign Service Academy in the capital, the minister said preserving the achievements of the July movement and safeguarding Bangladesh’s independent identity on the global stage had become a national responsibility.
He said Bangladesh was working to strengthen its diplomatic position by navigating the complexities of contemporary global politics and the challenges facing the rules-based international order.
The event began with remarks by Foreign Service Academy Rector Ambassador Mohammad Abdul Muhith, while Ambassador Nazrul Islam, Secretary (East and West), addressed the gathering as a special guest.
In his speech, Khalilur Rahman paid tribute to those who lost their lives in the July Uprising, saying their courage, patriotism and sacrifice in the pursuit of democracy, justice and human rights would continue to inspire future generations.
Recalling the events of 2024, he described the nationwide internet blackout imposed during the unrest as unprecedented, saying such a disruption had not even occurred during Bangladesh’s Liberation War. He characterised the period as one of the darkest and most brutal chapters in the country’s history.
Sharing his personal experience, the minister said he had been serving as the United Nations Secretary-General’s chief on economic and social affairs at the time. Disturbed by what he described as grave human rights violations in Bangladesh, he decided on August 1 to directly brief the UN Secretary-General’s office. He said it was believed that these international efforts later contributed to the cessation of gunfire by security forces and accelerated the country’s political transition.
He added that, at the request of the then Chief Adviser during the interim administration, he later assumed responsibility for national security. According to him, the three immediate priorities were ensuring the Chief Adviser’s security, maintaining government stability, and facilitating a democratic transition through a free and fair election.
The foreign minister said Bangladesh had begun regaining its lost standing in the international community. He noted that Türkiye’s foreign minister had recently told him that Bangladesh, which had once appeared to be fading from the global stage, was now re-emerging as a more influential actor.
Referring to the country’s diplomatic history, he said Bangladesh had demonstrated remarkable diplomatic capability in the 1970s when, only a few years after independence, it defeated Japan in the election for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council. He said the achievement reflected the skill and determination of the country’s diplomats and proved that Bangladesh had succeeded in seemingly impossible missions before.
Khalilur Rahman said the prime minister had set new goals to expand Bangladesh’s role in international affairs, including reviving the country’s candidatures for key positions within the United Nations. He said Bangladesh remained committed to strengthening its global presence while preserving its sovereignty and national dignity.
Calling on government officials to honour the sacrifices of those killed and injured during the July Uprising, the minister said the government possessed both the determination and the capability to fulfil the historic responsibility entrusted to it.
He reiterated that, as emphasised by the prime minister, Bangladesh must never again become a “client state” and urged all concerned to remain vigilant in protecting the country’s independence in foreign policy.
Praising the country’s youth, Khalilur Rahman said they had rescued Bangladesh from what he described as a formidable threat and entrusted the nation to future generations. He urged everyone to safeguard the country with dedication, wisdom and compassion while keeping the sacrifices of the July martyrs at the forefront of their efforts.