Noting some of the expatriates’ active opposition or hostility towards each other in the name of political affiliations abroad, Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain has encouraged the non-resident Bangladeshis (NRBs) to engage in the domestic politics of their respective host country abroad instead of getting involved in Bangladesh’s domestic politics.
Speaking at a NRBs’ conference on Saturday, he said this changed approach will truly help enhance Bangladesh’s image and branding abroad with greater influence like the Indian expatriates who have the leverage with their greater engagement in host countries’ domestic politics through important posts.
“We must come out from this practice,” Hossain said, referring to what has been seen in the past decades abroad under the banner of political parties like Bangladesh Awami League, BNP, Jamaat and Jatiya Party to some extent, not just now or during the previous regime.
The Centre for Non-Resident Bangladeshis (CNRB) hosted the conference titled “Branding Bangladesh: NRB and UN Peacekeepers Leading the Way” as part of world conference series 2025. It was chaired by CNRB Chairperson MS Shekil Chowdhury.
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Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Ahsan H Mansur, among others, spoke at the event.
The Foreign Adviser also referred to branches of Bangladesh’s major political parties abroad who gather in a big way when someone goes to a particular country from Bangladesh, and posed a question whether similar things are seen from any other country in the world.
Hossain said they simply see party or individual-based reaction instead of issue-based reaction from some of the Bangladeshi expatriates. “This is harming us in a big way in terms of our image and branding abroad,” he said, encouraging all to look at India and how they are dealing with the issue.
“We will get benefitted when we get involved in domestic politics (of host countries). This is our path, if we want to be influential globally,” he said.
Sharing his experience in serving as Bangladesh Ambassador to South Africa, Hossain said fortunately he saw both BNP and Awami League supporters together welcomed whenever any guest visited the country from Bangladesh.
“It was entirely exceptional,” he said, adding that he did not see such unity by the Bangladeshis in the Western countries which are supposed to be stronger in democratic practice.
Hossain said when NRBs hold important positions in their host countries; it will create a strong brand image for Bangladesh globally.
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Referring to the example set by the Indian diaspora, he said Indians have achieved significant global influence by securing crucial positions in governments and political bodies in different countries, especially in Western nations.
Hossain said Bangladesh’s political parties are among the largest in the world, with widespread branches across numerous countries.
“Have you seen people from any other country gathering at airports in foreign lands to chant slogans against someone?” he posed a question.
“Why do Indians enjoy various benefits abroad while we do not? Because we are less involved in local politics,” he added.
The Foreign Adviser urged NRBs to counter false propaganda against Bangladesh in the international arena especially in Indian media, particularly narratives suggesting a war-like situation or minority-targeted violence in the country.
“Some incidents have occurred, but they were not aimed at minorities due to their religious identity,” he said. “For example, if ten houses were attacked, eight of them were owned by Muslims.”
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