Ministry of Foreign Affairs

ministry · verified (verified 2026-05-17)

Profile

Head: Dr. Khalilur Rahman
Role: Minister
Annual budget: ৳17,040,000,000
Staff: —
Established: 1971
Legal basis: Constitution of Bangladesh (Articles 25, 55); Rules of Business of the Government of Bangladesh 1996

MOFA is pursuing a multi-vector foreign policy under the new BNP government: resetting India ties, deepening China partnership, engaging the US on trade and energy, pressing for Rohingya repatriation, and campaigning for the UNGA 81st session presidency bid

Recent activity

2026-02-17 appointment Dr. Khalilur Rahman sworn in as Foreign Minister; Shama Obaed Islam appointed State Minister for Foreign Affairs under the Tarique Ministry ↗↗
2026-03-09 international FM Khalilur Rahman led Bangladesh delegation at the 26th Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting in London ↗
2026-03-12 international MOFA organised a side event at the UN Human Rights Council (HRC 61) in Geneva on Rohingya accountability, repatriation challenges, and justice; nine years since the 2017 crisis ↗
2026-03-30 international FM Khalilur Rahman disclosed Bangladesh shared biometric and biographical data of 829,036 Rohingya refugees with Myanmar in six phases; Myanmar has verified 354,751 individuals but repatriation remains stalled due to Rakhine conflict ↗↗
2026-03-31 international FM Khalilur Rahman met US Energy Secretary Chris Wright in Washington DC; discussed Bangladesh's energy security challenges and requested US support for supply chain disruptions ↗
2026-04-07 international FM Khalilur Rahman's three-day official visit to India (April 7-9); met EAM S. Jaishankar, NSA Ajit Doval, and Minister Hardeep Singh Puri; discussed trade, water-sharing, connectivity, energy, visa services, and formally raised Hasina extradition request ↗↗
2026-04-22 policy Government formed a 16-member national committee to coordinate law and order and overall management of forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals in Cox's Bazar camp areas; Home Minister as convener ↗
2026-05-05 international FM Khalilur Rahman began three-day official visit to China (May 5-7) at invitation of Wang Yi; first China visit since BNP took office in February 2026 ↗↗
2026-05-06 international Wang Yi held formal talks with FM Khalilur Rahman in Beijing; China pledged to align Belt and Road cooperation with Bangladesh's development strategy and deepen cooperation in green development, digital economy, infrastructure, and water conservancy ↗↗
2026-05-08 international FM Khalilur Rahman met Wang Huning, Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, during Beijing visit ↗
2026-05-09 international State Minister Shama Obaed Islam met Pakistan's Minister for Interior and Narcotics Control in Dhaka; Bangladesh and Pakistan vowed stronger bilateral cooperation ties ↗↗
2026-05-17 international OIC member states confirmed full campaign support for Bangladesh's candidature for the Presidency of the 81st UN General Assembly session (election June 2, 2026); Bangladesh competes against Cyprus ↗↗

Provenance & notes

Current minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman is an economist who previously served as National Security Adviser and High Representative for the Rohingya Issue in the interim government. State Minister Shama Obaed Islam (BNP, Faridpur-2) was appointed 2026-02-17 and handles sub-ministerial bilateral engagements, including Pakistan. Foreign Secretary is Asad Alam Siam (appointed June 2025). Rohingya count as of January 31, 2026: 1,182,755 registered refugees from 245,998 families including 143,327 new arrivals (UNHCR/RRRC). Touhid Hossain (interim government's Foreign Affairs Adviser) formally left MOFA on February 16, 2026.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

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