By Dr Shaikh Akram Ali
Courage is one of the most important qualities a political leader can possess. It is not simply the willingness to confront danger. It is the moral strength to make difficult decisions, withstand pressure and remain committed to what is believed to be right. For nations facing uncertainty, this quality can be decisive. History repeatedly shows that countries rarely find their way through crises by avoiding difficult choices. They do so when their leaders remain calm, act with conviction and put national interests above political convenience.
Bangladesh is now facing one of the most complicated moments in its modern diplomatic history. Relations with India have experienced periods of cooperation and tension, but they have deteriorated sharply since the political upheaval that brought an end to Sheikh Hasina’s rule. India did not support the interim government led by Dr Muhammad Yunus and, from Dhaka’s perspective, adopted a series of measures that were viewed as unfriendly, including restrictions on visa services for Bangladeshi citizens.
The political landscape changed after the February 2026 elections and the return of Tarique Rahman to power. India moved quickly to signal an interest in rebuilding relations, while China also invited the new Bangladeshi leader to Beijing. Dhaka was therefore confronted with a sensitive diplomatic choice: whether to travel first to Delhi or Beijing.
The decision to visit Malaysia before China was an important demonstration of diplomatic caution. It avoided the appearance that Bangladesh was choosing one major power over another and gave the new government space to define its own foreign policy. Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman also emerged as an important figure in shaping that approach. The message was clear: Bangladesh would seek friendship with all, but its national interest would come first.
That position has inevitably caused unease in New Delhi. India’s decision to allow Sheikh Hasina to address the media on August 5, despite Dhaka’s objections, was seen by the Bangladeshi government as an unacceptable intrusion into its domestic affairs. Dhaka responded by lodging a formal protest with the Indian government. The decision to confront the issue rather than remain silent was welcomed by many Bangladeshis as a sign that the government was prepared to defend its diplomatic position.
But courage must be accompanied by restraint. Bangladesh cannot afford to allow tensions with India to develop into a permanent confrontation. Nor should it underestimate the possibility that political divisions could be exploited by external actors. The government must closely monitor attempts by political groups to create disorder while ensuring that legitimate political activity is not confused with threats to national security. The priority should be preserving social peace and preventing political differences from becoming a source of violence.
This requires national unity. Government and opposition parties should engage in dialogue and agree on a basic framework for protecting the country’s stability. Bangladesh should also prepare for possible disruptions to essential supplies by diversifying its sources of food, energy and other strategic commodities. Diplomatic engagement with Pakistan, China, the United States and other partners should similarly be maintained on the basis of national interest rather than bloc politics.
Bangladesh’s experience under Ziaur Rahman demonstrated that difficult relations with India could be managed through a broader diplomatic strategy. The circumstances today, however, are more complex. Dhaka must maintain working relationships with both Washington and Beijing while avoiding unnecessary dependence on either. That balancing act will require patience, consistency and political maturity.
The government’s stated commitment to a “Bangladesh First” policy is therefore significant. A foreign policy centered on national sovereignty does not mean hostility towards neighbors. It means that every relationship must ultimately be judged by what it delivers for the country’s security, economy and people.
The July 2024 uprising created enormous expectations among Bangladeshis. The fall of an entrenched political order was only the beginning. People now want a society in which institutions work, discrimination is reduced, political rights are protected and ordinary citizens can see improvements in their daily lives. Political change will mean little if it does not eventually produce greater stability and prosperity.
This is where leadership will be tested. Courage is not measured by the harshness of a government’s rhetoric, but by its ability to make difficult decisions without losing sight of the larger national interest. Bangladesh needs firmness without recklessness, diplomacy without submission and unity without political exclusion.
The first steps may have been encouraging, but the harder journey lies ahead. If the government can preserve national unity, maintain balanced relations with major powers and keep the “Bangladesh First” principle at the center of its decisions, it will have a stronger chance of turning political change into lasting peace and prosperity. Courage can open the way. But only consistency, wisdom and hard work can take a nation to its destination.
(The writer is an academic and political commentator in Bangladesh and can be reached at news@metro-morning.com)
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