The government of Bangladesh should mull over increasing  deep engagement with Bangladeshi diasporas living in western countries to counter Indian propaganda against the interim government of Dr Mohammad Yunus and brand positively the country to the rest of the world, said Bangladesh diplomats, policy makers, top exporters while talking to the Dazzling Dawn.

Several thousand Bangladeshis have sound businesses, are doing better jobs and have even political connections in USA, UK, Canada, Australia, Germany, France, Italy, Portugal and Spain and the Bangladesh diplomats should increase social connectivity with them to brand Bangladesh positively, said a Bangladesh diplomat who worked in western countries during his diplomatic career.

The Indian diasporas across the world are very strong and the Indian government and the missions maintain close relation with them in branding their country, said a member of Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers and Exporters (BGMEA).

Bangladesh has a major export market in the USA, European Union countries, Canada, Australia, UK, Japan and South Korea and the negative Indian propaganda will stand in the way of expanding the export market, said a top leading exporter of the country while talking to this correspondent.

India, Pakistan, Vietnam, Cambodia, China and Sri Lanka are competitors of Bangladesh in the international markets and can cash in on the negative propaganda, said the exporter of readymade garments……

Bangladesh witnessed political turmoil during the July-August period that saw killings of 1500 persons and injured some 25,000 persons, engineered by the dictator Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. In the history of independent Bangladesh, the country never witnessed such a scenario. Even the military dictator General Hossain Mohammad Ershad quit the power on December 6, 1990 through a mass movement to avoid the bloodshed. Some western countries have issued travel warnings against Bangladesh during the political turmoil……………

As the economy has been going through rough patch, the government and Bangladesh missions can seek cooperation of expats living in different parts of the world, especially in the western countries in branding “positive Bangladesh”, said Bangladesh diplomats who worked in some western countries.

Bangladesh has been in a catch -22 situation as a major section of Indian politicians, members of the civil society and some media houses have launched massive propaganda against the country after dictator Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the most trusted partner of India quit the power on August 5, 2024 through students-led mass uprising.

Attending a roundtable hosted by The Business Standard last month, Abdullah Hil Rakib, former senior vice president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), stressed that the influence of Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, an internationally respected figure, could be used to remove these travel alerts.

"A letter or even a tweet from him could make a significant impact," Rakib suggested, adding that Yunus's global standing might help to reassure foreign buyers.

Faruque Hassan, former BGMEA president, highlighted the growing apprehension among international buyers. "They are hesitant to visit Bangladesh due to the travel alert. While we are trying to convince them, the process is slow, forcing us to meet them abroad."

This, Hassan noted, undermines the industry's ability to negotiate competitive prices.

Sirajul Islam Azad, chief human resource officer of Bitopi Group, recounted how a Spanish designer cancelled a planned visit to Bangladesh last week despite having booked a ticket, citing his country's advisory against travel to Bangladesh.

Md Hafizur Rahman, administrator of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), revealed that a US FDA delegation, expected to certify Bangladeshi pharmaceutical products, also cancelled their trip.

Meanwhile, Bangladeshi diplomats abroad get the lowest allowance among South Asian countries that perhaps stand in the way of branding, upholding and promoting the country to the stakeholders concerned properly, sources said.

Meanwhile, Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Monday called upon the media and the people of the country to present the true picture of the country before the world, saying truth should be their weapon against propaganda.

"Let truth be our weapon against propaganda," he said while addressing the nation this morning on the occasion of the first Great Victory Day after the student-people uprising in the country.

Prof Yunus said the ousted forces cannot accept their defeat in any way so they are spending huge amounts of money every day to thwart the people's uprising from inside and outside the country.

They have thousands of crores of laundered money in their possession and their beneficiaries are spread everywhere, he said.

"If our unity remains unbroken, they will not be able to prevent us from achieving our goals. Be vigilant. Integrate your goals with the goals of the nation. No power in the world can divert us from achieving our goals," the chief adviser said.

He said when the defeated forces were trying to raise their heads, the leaders of all political parties and all religions and students, through a gathering, loudly declared in one voice that the unity through which the nation had carried out the revolution has become even stronger.

"Our unity has not weakened anywhere in the span of four months. We are unwavering in our pledge to build a new Bangladesh," the chief adviser said.

"Those who are trying to create distance among us through cunning propaganda in the outside world have not only failed to do so, but have instead inspired the entire nation to proudly and loudly proclaim its unity to the world," he said.

Meanwhile, sources in Dhaka and abroad said Bangladesh diplomats get the lowest allowance compared to countries like India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Nepal and Bhutan in most overseas countries.

The government of Bangladesh last revised the foreign allowances of MOFA officials in 2012. During the last 12 years, the cost of living abroad has increased several times leaving Bangladeshi diplomats struggling to maintain a decent life abroad, said at least two dozen Bangladeshi diplomats. Bangladesh government has 81 missions across the globe, sources said.

Sources said Bangladeshi diplomats are often reluctant to be posted in European countries except the UK as the government of Bangladesh allocates tuition fees for maximum two children, that is, to the tune of 20,000 US dollars or 85 per cent of total tuition fees, which one is lower, said a MOFA official.

Education is usually free at public schools in the UK, the USA, Australia and Canada, and most Bangladesh diplomats prefer to get posting in ‘English-speaking countries'. 'Education is highly expensive in English medium schools  in non-speaking English countries in Europe, sources said .

As a part of upholding the country’s image in the international arena, the government of Bangladesh has given the highest priority in promoting Bangladesh’s history, culture, heritage and tourism etc. abroad with a view to establishing Bangladesh as a progressive, secular, effective and capable country. Foreign missions abroad require holding seminars, workshops, publicities and exhibitions to highlight benefits of doing business in Bangladesh at regular inter-level, sources said.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs formulates and executes the foreign policy of the Government of Bangladesh. The core guidance of policy formulation comes from the relevant section of the Constitution of Bangladesh. In developing the external policy of the republic, the Ministry draws from the laws of the land, acts of the Parliament, international treaties that Bangladesh is a State party to, and other customary sources.

The Foreign Ministry’s goals are to develop and maintain friendly relations with other states and foster cooperation with developed, developing and least developed countries, and various regional, sub-regional, political and economic groups.

The foreign ministry pursues Bangladesh’s external economic and trade interests, promotes its culture abroad, and disseminates information to foreign countries. It safeguards the legal rights and promotes interests of its citizens and other legal entities in foreign countries. The ministry discharges its diverse duties through its headquarters in Dhaka and through its network of missions aboard. The work of the ministry is conducted by a number of wings. These divisions gather, analyze and process information, set priorities and draw up options according to the allocation of their individual areas and responsibilities.

Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh has been marching towards the ‘Golden Bengal’ envisioned by the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Bangladesh has celebrated the golden jubilee of its independence and the birth centenary of Bangabandhu.

Confirmation of Bangladesh’s graduation into a developing country came at the time of the momentous and joyful occasion. Graduation was indeed a remarkable milestone for the Bangladesh government that has been made possible by the right steps and prudent policies and strategies. Furthermore, we are now among the five fastest growing economies in the world, and are ranked 41st in terms of GDP size.

Over the last 53 years, Bangladesh economy has progressed well and is now considered as one of the emerging countries in the region.  Bangladesh has surpassed Pakistan and Nepal in social and economic indicators, and even countries like India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives in some social indicators. During the 13 years of the government, our poverty rate came down from 33.4 percent to 20.5 percent. Per capita income jumped to nearly fourfold to US$ 2,824.

The Vision 2041 stipulates elimination of extreme poverty and securing the upper middle-income country status by 2031 and becoming a high-income country by 2041. A number of large infrastructure projects, such as Padma Multipurpose Bridge, Metrorail, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel, are going to open for traffic this year transforming the communication infrastructure of the country.

Citing an example, a MOFA official told this correspondent that the Russian mission in Dhaka has increased social networking by hosting events every month since Russia invaded parts of Ukraine since the war began February 2022. The Russia-Ukraine war has been continuing with no sign of let-up as of now. To gain the support of Bangladeshis, the Russian mission in Dhaka is inviting Bangladeshi political, civil and military bureaucrats, cultural personalities, students, politicians at regular intervals.  Journalists and members of the civil society at regular social gatherings. Even some powerful EU countries are surprised at the social gathering of the Russian diplomats.

European countries are major trading and development partners of Bangladesh.

Against this backdrop, the top policy-makers in Bangladesh should put their second thought on revising the ‘foreign allowance of Bangladeshi diplomats, at least, to the level of Pakistan and Nepal to brand Bangladesh properly.