Introduction:

The term FOREIGN POLICY is comprised of two words consequently foreign and policy. By
the word foreign we indicate any place or country which is situated outside of a country and the
word policy refers to principle by following which any state achieved its desired goal. Thats why
Padelford, Lincoin and Olvy mentioned that, policy is the overall result of the process by which
a state translates its broadly conceived goals and interests into specific courses of action in order
to achieve its objectives and preserve its interests. Foreign policy thus refers the policy of a
sovereign state to achieve its desired goals to the foreign countries. Bangladesh is a country of
South Asia achieved its independence in 1971 maintain a foreign policy toward the foreign states.
Here we will discuss about the foreign policy of Bangladesh.

Definition of foreign policy:

Foreign policy can be defined in various ways as various definitions are given by the foreign
policy experts. Some of them are given below:
According to .Merriam Webster dictionary foreign policy indicates, the policy of a sovereign state
in its interaction with other sovereign states
According to prince Otto von Bismarck, the extension of domestic policy is foreign policy.

According to Charles Burton Marshall, foreign policy indicates states implemented activities or
the activities state desires to do in international arena rather than the objectives of state.
According to James Frankel Foreign policy indicates that type of decisions or collection of
activities by any state which is involved with the relation of state or states with that state..
According to C.V, Crabbe, Foreign policy is constructed with two elements namely fixing
national goals and the medium through which the goals will be fulfilled..
So from the above discussions we can say that foreign policy refers the policy fixed by a
sovereign state to deal the relations with other states to attain it desired goals for maximizing
national interest in international arena.

Determinants of Bangladesh Foreign policy:

There are some determinants of Bangladesh foreign policy which have impact on foreign policy
formulation. They are given below:
1. Geographical-Strategic position..
2. Population.
3. Economic condition.
4. Ideological environment.
5. Military Capability.
6. Quality of Government, national leadership and diplomacy.
7. National History.
8. Religion.
9. Culture and Natural Resources.
A short description about each of these determinants is given below:

1. Geographical-Strategic position: Geographical and strategic position always plays a very

important role in a countrys foreign policy. Strategy of a country in international arena is also
defined by the geography of a state. Thats why Napoleon Bonaparte once said that, the foreign
policy of a country is determined by its geography. Bangladesh is not an exception of this.
Geography has put Bangladesh as a neighbor of India and Myanmar in three sides except the
south with the Bay of Bengal. India has surrounded Bangladesh from three sides and the position
of Bangladesh is like a flannel from the bay of Bengal. This position is disadvantageous for
Bangladesh and it affects the foreign policy of Bangladesh.

2. Population: Population is another important determinant of Bangladesh foreign policy.

Bangladesh has a huge population of nearby 148 million population are squeezed in an area of 1,
47,000 s km which gives the population density of 1020 persons per s km. most of these huge
population are uneducated and inefficient. So Bangladesh foreign policy is largely affected by
this huge population negatively because government cant create a highly dynamic foreign policy
because of population

3. Economic condition: Economic condition of a country vastly affects the foreign policy of a
country. If the economic condition of a country is stable than the foreign policy of a country
becomes stronger because the policy implementation is dependent on financial sponsor in a large
extent. Bangladesh is very poor in economic condition-the per capita income of Bangladesh is
$750. Thus got the LDC status in international arena and cant formulate aggressive foreign
policy

4. Ideological environment: Ideological environment is another important determinant in

formulation of foreign policy. If any state exists in any ideological environment created by a
hedgemon then the foreign policy of that country may be affected by this as it had been seen in
the rise of socialism in Eastern Europe during the cold war period. Bangladesh being independent
with the help of India one ally of USSR during the cold war period followed the socialism as one
of the foreign policy criteria.

5. Military capability: Military capability fixes the character of any states foreign policy such
as whether it will be offensive or defensive. Nuclear power like the U.S.A always formulate
offensive foreign policy to achieve its interest while Bangladesh foreign policy in this aspect is
defensive because of her lower capability of being non nuclear state and also for dominated by
the powerful neighbor states such as India , Pakistan.

6 .Quality of Government, Leadership and diplomacy: A highly qualified government

with dynamic leadership associated with strong diplomat and policymakers can easily formulate a
strong foreign policy to implement. The democracy in Bangladesh is not so much strong as its
leadership and diplomacy is not so because of various limitations. Thats why the foreign policy
of Bangladesh is not so much effective though fulfill at least.

7. National history: National history is another important determinant of Bangladesh foreign

policy. Historically we are allied with the India from the time of independence who was the ally
of then USSR. Thats why Bangladesh foreign policy was pro Indian and USSSR. With the
change of time policy of Bangladesh changed towards the U.S.A and the Muslim world because
of Bangladesh national interest but still Bangladesh pro Indian policy exists because of national
history.

8. Religion: Religion is another determinant which placed its impact upon Bangladesh foreign
policy very effectively. At the beginning Bangladesh was a secular state and still it is but at the
reign of Zia ur Rahman the status was changed to the Muslim nation by the amendment of
constitution because of the will to be favored by the Muslim world. And by another amendment it
was abolished. So religious identity of the people played a very important role in the formulation
of Bangladesh foreign policy.

9. Culture and Natural Resources: By culture Bangladeshis are very peaceful and
Bangladesh foreign policy thus always effected by this. As a result Bangladesh foreign policy is
always peaceful rather than being offensive. Natural resources do not allow Bangladesh to
unplanned use because of its scarceness. So Bangladesh foreign policy needs to be more careful
about the use of her natural resources.

Aims of Bangladesh Foreign policy:

As like as other countries Bangladesh foreign policy has some important aims to achieve.
Bangladesh foreign policy makers keep these aims and objectives in mind when they formulate
the foreign policy. Aims of Bangladesh foreign policy is given below:
1.

To promote national interest.

2.

To ensure national security.

3.

To ensure development.

4.

To increase national dignity

5.

To keep her Ideology alive

1. To ensure national interest: Alfred Thayer Mahan once said that, self interest is not only
a legitimate but a fundamental cause for foreign policy, it is vain to expect governments to act
continuously on any other ground than national interest. Ensuring the national interest is one of
the main objectives of Bangladesh foreign policy. W.W.Rostow said that, national interest is the
conception which nations apply in trying to influence the world environment in their advantage.
it is states ultimate goal to achieve in any way. Thats why British Prime Minister Lord
Palmerstone once said that, we have no eternal allies and we have no perpetual enemies. Our
interests are eternal and perpetual and those interests it is our duty to follow. keeping this
keywords in mind Bangladesh foreign policy makers give national interest the highest priority.

2. To ensure national security: National security has two dimensions namely internal and
external. By the internal dimension we understand the political and economic stability in
domestic sphere. It means there is no turbulent situation in Bangladesh domestic sphere. on the
other side by the external security we understand the preservation of Bangladesh sovereignty
from the external enemies. When policy makers formulate foreign policy they keep this matter
and make the policy.
3. To ensure the development: Nationwide development is another agenda of Bangladesh
foreign policy. So when foreign policy is formulated then it is followed that how development
will be generated and for that what type of aid or grant is needed and how it can be attained from
whom. By considering all these foreign policy of Bangladesh is formulated.

4. To increase national dignity: Increasing national dignity in international arena is another

aim of Bangladesh foreign policy. Only national security cant raise our status in international and
regional politics. This can be done by the increasement of national dignity. This can be done by
the positive activities in international arena which Bangladesh is doing by participating in UN
peace keeping missions and other.
5. To keep her Ideology alive: Bangladesh is neither a socialist nor a capitalist country. She
is the member of the Non Align Movement. Thats why she dont like to stay under any of the
above mentioned block. She wants peace in the NAM states and also among the others.she wants

unity among the NAM states and she also want the more strengthen NAM with the other states.
This ideology Bangladesh wants to keep alive by her foreign polic

Principles of Bangladesh Foreign policy:

There are some principles maintained by the foreign policy of Bangladesh. Bangladesh is a
member of various international key organizations such as the UN, the NAM e.t.c. so the
principles of Bangladesh foreign policy cant be controversial with the principles of these
organizations. There are four basic principles of Bangladesh foreign policy. They are given
below:

1. Friendship to all and malice towards none: Bangladesh being a very poor country is
dependent on the foreign aid vastly which is provided by the states with various ideologies. Thats
why Bangladesh is not willing to support any big power blindly because that will make her bad to
the others and as being a less powerful state Bangladesh dont expect herself at that situation.
Thats why the prominent leader of the nation Sheikh Mujibur Rahman said that, we are a small
country. we want friendship to all and malice towards none.

2. Respect to the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of other states:

Bangladesh is a member of United Nations. And as UN charter mentioned in article 2(4) that, All
Members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force
against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other
manner inconsistent with the Purposes of the United Nations..-Bangladesh is obliged to
obey this and Bangladesh do so. Thats why it became one of the basic principles of
Bangladesh foreign policy.

3. Non interval in the domestic matter of any state: Article 2(7) of the UN charter
mentioned that, Nothing contained in the present Charter shall authorize the United
Nations to intervene in matters which are essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of
any state or shall require the Members to submit such matters to settlement under the
present Charter; but this principle shall not prejudice the application of enforcement
measure. As a member of united nations Bangladesh included this policy to her principle of foreign policy
successfully which gives assudences to other about Bangladesh friendly respectful character without any
doubt.

4. World peace: Bangladesh want peace in international arena thats why it formulated world
peace as one of the basic principles of her foreign policy as it is also related to her national
security and development, thats why Emajuddin ahmed noted that, Bangladesh desires peace
not only for the sake of peace but also for the strategic consideration of national development and
security. There are various significances of this principles such as Bangladesh believes in
peaceful co-operation, peaceful settlement of conflicts and peaceful changes in international
arena. Bangladesh in this aspect will never create any threat for international peace.

Weaknesses and Limitations of Bangladesh Foreign policy

Bangladesh has some weaknesses from the view points of the foreign policy analysis and thus has
some limitations also. The weaknesses and limitations of Bangladesh foreign policy are given
below:
I. The geographical location of Bangladesh is not advantageous. It is surrounded by India from
three sides. Thus in Bangladesh foreign policy India plays a very big role (most of the time
dominating). It is not possible for us to avoid India. Though a policy like the Look East was tried
and still in under process but not proved so effective.
II. We have a large population and Bangladeshs society is uni lingual. There is absence of
feudal society in Bangladesh. So people of Bangladesh has unity in this sense but this cant give
Bangladesh an advantage because her peoples lacking of education, poverty and less efficiency.
III. In Bangladesh there is multi party political system in democracy. But this doesnt give
Bangladesh so many advantages to Bangladesh because sometimes these parties placed their
party interest upon national interest.
IV. Economic condition of Bangladesh is very poor. Thats why she is dependent on foreign aid
which she has to use by obeying the prescription provided by the donor countries and
organizations. Thus she cant take a policy according to her own will only but with the interest of
other countries.
V. The natural resources of Bangladesh cant be used accordingly because she has no sufficient
ability to use those and thats why dependent on foreign powers and thats why foreign policy of
Bangladesh has to consider their interests also.
VI. The standard of the diplomacy generated by the Bangladesh cant be very good because of
various lacking. Thus Bangladesh becomes affected in various treaties and diplomatic missions.
VII. The gap between the government and public is very much because the bureaucracy-the
medium of communication of people with t here is very much corrupted. Thus the public opinions
access in foreign policy is denied many times and foreign policy cant bring welfare.

Conclusion:
In the end of the discussion we can conclude that foreign policy of Bangladesh is not still a strong
one though being very dynamic in recent years which is reflected on the sea boundary issue with
the India and Myanmar. It is also reflected in the COP-15 conference held in Copenhagen,
Denmark-where Bangladesh protested the greatest powers of the world by diplomacy with the
other LDC states by demanding a sum for the reparations of the environment degradation. So at
last if can be expected that in the near future Bangladesh foreign policy will be strongest one
which will associate to improve her status in international arena.

References:

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Norman.j.padelford, George.A.Lincoin and Lee D.Olvy The Dynamics of International

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C.B.Marshall, the limits of foreign policy in Michael Curtis(ed) the nature of politics
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Joseph Frankel, the making of Foreign policy,p.1
C.V, Crabbe American foreign policy in the nuclear age p.1
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Harun-ur-Rashid Bangladesh in international affairs()p.217
quoted from Mohammed A. Mabud: PhD Bangladesh Population: Prospects and
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15, 2008

II.

available at http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=140346

last cited at 10.35pm at November 20,2010

The Times London, January 15,1972
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12.15 am 20/11/2010
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https://www.academia.edu/376518/Foreign_policy_of_Bangladesh_a_very_simpl
e_idea