Dhaka, Jun 27 (V7N) – Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has said his recent official visits to China and Malaysia were guided solely by the interests of Bangladesh and its people, reaffirming that the government's foreign engagements are centered on protecting national priorities.

The Prime Minister made the remarks while addressing the budget session of the 13th National Parliament, chaired by Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, on Saturday morning.

"From my position, I have spoken about the interests of the country and its people and have tried to protect those interests," Tarique Rahman told the House.

He said the people of Bangladesh had entrusted the government with the responsibility of safeguarding the nation's interests, adding that the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) continues to uphold its guiding principle of "Bangladesh First."

"The people of Bangladesh have given us the responsibility to look after their interests. From the position of our party, we use a slogan, which is 'Bangladesh First'," the Prime Minister said.

Tarique Rahman emphasized that the achievements of the visits should be viewed as successes for the country rather than for any individual.

"None of us have any personal issues here. If anything has been achieved, anything good has been achieved, it is the achievement of Bangladesh. If anything has been achieved by the people of the country through this visit, it is the achievement of the people of this country," he said.

The Prime Minister also expressed his appreciation to members of Parliament for their support, particularly acknowledging the encouragement received from the opposition.

"Since all the members of Parliament, especially the Opposition Leader, have encouraged us to work for the country and its people, I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to all the members, including the Opposition Leader, on my personal behalf," he said.

The remarks came during discussions on the national budget following the Prime Minister's recent diplomatic tour of Malaysia and China, where he participated in bilateral meetings and international economic forums aimed at strengthening Bangladesh's global partnerships.

END/SMA/AJ