Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain has laid emphasis on maintaining "balanced relations" while pursuing its broader foreign policy, noting that the term "non-aligned" has become actually almost “defunct” these days.

"For a country like Bangladesh, it is extremely important that we maintain a balanced relationship," he said on Monday, adding that very few (countries) are truly non-aligned.

Hossain made the remarks while responding to a question at an international seminar at the Foreign Service Academy.

While speaking at the closing session of the seminar, the Foreign Adviser said Bangladesh has been very firm on many issues of foreign policy, including the Rohingya crisis.

He also referred to the relations between India and China while Bangladesh is maintaining good relations with both.

The Foreign Adviser also highlighted the importance of Bangladesh’s relations with the United States where Bangladesh has a huge market and a huge diaspora.

In terms of balancing relations with the important countries, Hossain said, they are doing quite well though the evaluation will come at the end of their term, not now.

Responding to a question, the Foreign Adviser said technically the Rohingyas are not refugees and they do not address them as refugees but they accept the position of the UNHCR to take care of them.

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The Foreign Adviser laid emphasis on a complete roadmap in terms of repatriation of the Rohingyas to their place of origin – Rakhine – ensuring their safety and dignity.

The Department of International Relations and the Center for Genocide Studies at the University of Dhaka in collaboration with the Foreign Service Academy and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees organized the seminar titled “The Rohingyas in Bangladesh: In Search of a Sustainable Future.”