Shafiqur calls for parliamentary scrutiny of all foreign agreements, MoUs

Opposition leader and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman has called on the government to present all major international agreements and memorandums of understanding (MoUs) in parliament, saying greater transparency and accountability would strengthen public trust in the country's foreign policy. 

Speaking during a discussion on the motion of thanks over the prime minister's recent visits to China and Malaysia in parliament today (27 June), Shafiqur reaffirmed his party's support for Bangladesh's independent foreign policy while urging the government to safeguard national interests in all international engagements.

He described China and Malaysia as Bangladesh's long-standing and trusted friends, but stressed that all significant agreements signed with foreign countries should be placed before parliament, allowing elected representatives to scrutinise and debate them.

"As the opposition, we will extend all necessary cooperation to the government in implementing an independent foreign policy," he said. "However, national interests must remain the highest priority, and interference by any foreign power is unacceptable."

Shafiqur said international agreements should be based on mutual respect, equality and shared interests so that neither party is disadvantaged.

Highlighting Bangladesh's economic challenges, he noted that the country remains heavily dependent on imports, while ready-made garment exports and overseas employment continue to be the main sources of foreign earnings. He said there is considerable scope to diversify exports and called for short-, medium- and long-term strategies to achieve that goal.

The opposition leader expressed hope that the prime minister had prioritised these issues during his visits to China and Malaysia.

He argued that placing important international agreements before parliament would enable meaningful debate among lawmakers and help build greater confidence between the government and the public.

Shafiqur also stressed that parliament should remain the centre of all major state affairs and warned against bypassing the legislature when making important national decisions.

He said his party does not believe in a political culture where the ruling party claims all credit while the opposition merely criticises. Instead, he urged both the government and the opposition to fulfil their respective responsibilities with mutual respect in the interest of nation-building.