Foreign Adviser Iftekhar A Chowdhury yesterday revealed a 10-point foreign policy plan of the caretaker government, which includes improving relations with neighbouring countries and the five key world powers, securing duty-free export access, attracting foreign investment and promoting manpower export.

At a press conference in New York Iftekhar also said Russia has assured Bangladesh of assisting in building a nuclear power plant, which the government plans to set up by 2015.

The foreign adviser pointed out the government’s achievement in securing jobs for 4.6 lakh Bangladeshis overseas and road-link deals with Myanmar.

Enumerating the 10 points of the caretaker government’s foreign policy, Iftekhar said it should be geared to the benefit of “common man and woman”.

The foreign policies include strengthening a “balanced relationship” with the neighbouring nations and member states of the Saarc and Bimstec, and developing linkages with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, European Union, Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) and the Commonwealth.

Dhaka will also look to “actively engage ourselves in the demarcation of land and maritime boundaries”, he said.

Bangladesh needs to “cultivate relations” with the five key global powers–the USA, Russia, Britain, Japan and China, he added.

Dhaka should also play a greater role in the UN by enhancing participation in peace-keeping and peace-building, and “actively espousing non-proliferation and disarmament”, said a foreign ministry press release.

On trade, Iftekhar said the government should secure “unimpeded entry of Bangladeshi products into foreign markets, particularly of the readymade garments and negotiate reduced tariff and non-tariff barriers and favourable trading regimes through WTO mechanisms”.

The foreign policy also includes attractive foreign direct investment in the country, including from the non-resident Bangladeshis.

“The government should also locate newer markets for skilled and semi-skilled workforce and take active measures to promote and protect the welfare of all expatriate Bangladeshis,” the foreign adviser said, adding that Dhaka will try to locate sources for meeting emergency food requirements, including nuclear power for peaceful purposes.

Iftekhar also said Dhaka should look to utilising the country’s rich intellectual and cultural resources to advance the foreign policy interests.

Earlier, delivering a speech at the conference of Islamic foreign ministers, Iftekhar said, “We must strengthen cooperation among member states to prevent conflicts, achieve an independent Palestine, safeguard the rights of the Muslims where they are minority, and prevent unilateral actions against Muslim states.”

He said the Islamic world must use its “abundant resources” to achieve higher levels of development in the fields of economy and science. He urged the OIC to pay special attention to the least developed Muslim countries.

The foreign adviser said the West mistakenly equates Islam with terrorism, but “Islam is a faith of peace and the Islamic world is united against terrorism”.