DHAKA, June 25, 2023 (BSS) - State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam today reiterated that the government is "not feeling any pressure" ahead of the national election and no word like "fear" is in the dictionary of Awami League and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

"We are not feeling any pressure from anything ... the present government will work till the last moment as per the constitution," he said while speaking at DCAB Talk.

Diplomatic Correspondents Association of Bangladesh (DCAB) hosted its flagship event at the Foreign Service Academy.

The state minister said the government will not accept or welcome any interference in Bangladesh's internal affairs but will welcome election observers.

He said Bangladesh being a "small country" has changed its status globally with growing economy, wider engagement with partners and political stability.

"Bangladesh is seen as an example of good practice in multilateral forums," he said.

Alam said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will not take any step that goes against the interest of the people and the country.

The state minister said Bangladesh will make USA convince to withdraw its sanctions on RAB as there has been significant progress in RAB on human rights front.

He said that Dhaka would be force to draw a conclusion on the matter, if the US does not withdraw the sanction even after seeing satisfactory improvement on RAB acts regarding safeguarding human rights.

Regarding the Rohingya crisis, the state minister said Bangladesh is still determined to go for a small trial in terms of repatriation to observe the challenges before starting a full scale one.
 
"I will call upon everyone to support that process. The Rohingyas want to go back. We are committed to their safe and dignified return. We keep working on that front," he said.

He said the outcome of the trial will help to commence a "real Rohingya repatriation".
 
DCAB President Rezaul Karim Lotus moderated the discussion.