SANGSAD BHABAN : Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today said he had pressed the interests of the country and its people at various events he attended during his six-day maiden official visit to Malaysia and China from June 21 to 26.

He made the remarks in response to unanimous adoption of a thanksgiving motion on prime minister’s successful completion of official visits to Malaysia and China in the Jatiya Sangsad today. Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, Bir Bikram chaired the session.

“The fundamental issue here is that the people of Bangladesh have entrusted us with the responsibility of safeguarding their interests. From our party's perspective, we use the slogan, 'Bangladesh First,” he said. 

“What I have tried to do, .. . from my position, is to speak for the interests of my country and its people and to protect those interests,” he told the parliament.
 
He said: “There is nothing personal in this for any of us. If there has been any achievement, it is Bangladesh's achievement.”

The premier thanked all the members of parliament especially the leader of the opposition “who have encouraged me to work for the country and its people”

Earlier, LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir moved the thanksgiving motion, which was adopted by voice votes after threadbare discussions in the House.

While adopting the motion, parliament members belonging to both treasury and the opposition benches described the tours as a landmark event in Bangladesh’s foreign policy and economic diplomacy.

Taking part in the discussion on the motion, Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury and Leader of the Opposition in parliament Dr. Shafiqur Rahman underscored the strategic significance of the prime minister’s June 21-26 two-nation visits.

Before putting the motion to a voice vote, Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, Bir Bikram, said the debate reflected a rare consensus across party lines, with lawmakers from both the government and the opposition placing “thoughtful and valuable opinions” on the issue.

“The discussions clearly indicate that the prime minister’s recent visits to Malaysia and China have opened a new horizon in Bangladesh’s foreign policy,” he told the House.