Law adviser Asif Nazrul on Monday in the city said that Bangladesh did not have any dignity to other countries in the 15 years of the authoritarian regime of Sheikh Hasina, who fled the country on August 5 amid a student-led mass uprising.
He observed that Bangladesh did not have any relation of mutual respect with neighbouring India during the period in particular.
鈥楤angladesh鈥檚 foreign relations with other countries lacked in sense of dignity in the 15-year rule of fascist Sheikh Hasina鈥� The July uprising has created scopes for soul-searching and upholding people鈥檚 aspirations in our diplomacy,鈥� said Asif Nazrul while speaking at a seminar on 鈥楯uly Uprising Day鈥� as chief guest.
Organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the Foreign Service Academy, the event was also addressed by foreign adviser Md Touhid Hossain and foreign secretary Asad Alam Siam.聽聽
Responding to Asif Nazrul lamenting over Bangladesh鈥檚 image abroad, the foreign adviser said that officials at airports in many foreign countries looked down upon Bangladeshi passports as people forged documents destroying the country鈥檚 image abroad.
Touhid underlined the need for having self-respect to uphold the country鈥檚 positive image to others.
He said that his government was trying to solve the problems of around 1.5 crore Bangladeshi expatriates, saying it was an opportunity for them to build a discrimination free and merit-based society in keeping with the spirit of the July uprising.聽聽
Asif Nazrul, adviser to the expatriates鈥� welfare and overseas employment, said that the student-led mass uprising that led to the ouster of the fascist government on August 5, 2024 was the outburst of the long-suppressed anger of the people against the misrule of Hasina.
The uprising brought people the scope for venting their anger against Hasina鈥檚 excesses in the three rigged elections of 2014, 2018 and 2024, and pervasive corruption, enforced disappearances and rights violations over the years perpetrated under her rule.
He said that people joined the July moment despite knowing that they would be killed.
鈥業t would be easier for us to rebuild the state if we realise why so many people came out and join the July movement that led to the fall of Sheikh Hasina,鈥� said Asif, also a professor of law at Dhaka University.聽
He said that the July martyrs would be honoured if Bangladesh achieved a better position through rebuilding in line with the spirit of the July uprising.