Comilla, Dec 11 (V7N) — Local Government, Rural Development, and Cooperatives Advisor Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan reaffirmed Bangladesh's commitment to prioritising national interests in foreign relations. Speaking as the chief guest at the closing session of the International Delegation Workshop on Financial Inclusion and Rural Transformation at the Lalmai Auditorium of Comilla's Rural Development Academy (BARD), the advisor highlighted the interim government's shift from a reactionary foreign policy approach with India.

"We do not believe in any foreign relations by compromising national interests. The interim government has moved away from a knee-jerk foreign policy with India. Future relations will continue keeping national interests in mind," said Asif Mahmud while interacting with journalists.

On the topic of local government elections, the advisor noted the increasing difficulty of assigning additional responsibilities to administrative officials due to public representative workloads. He added that decisions on election measures will follow the work of the Local Reforms Commission and the Election Commission.

The workshop, jointly organised by the LGRD Ministry, BARD, and the African-Asian Rural Development Organization, aimed to explore strategies for financial inclusion and rural transformation to meet long-term development goals. The event featured 20 representatives from 12 countries, including Zambia, Oman, Namibia, Kenya, Ghana, Gambia, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and Bangladesh.

Certificates were presented to participants, and notable remarks were delivered by Dr. Khushnud Ali, Head of Research at the African-Asian Rural Development Organization, who spoke virtually. The session was chaired by BARD Director General Saif Uddin Ahmed.

This collaborative effort reflects Bangladesh's ongoing commitment to sustainable rural development and international cooperation.

END/MSS/AJ