Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman told parliament that if the foreign ministry’s budget were reduced to one taka, Bangladesh would have to close its embassies abroad and lower the national flag. He made the remark on Tuesday during the approval process of the 2026–27 fiscal year budget while responding to cut motions on the ministry’s allocation. The minister said such a drastic cut would halt services for expatriates and prevent Bangladesh from paying its United Nations dues, risking suspension of membership.

Earlier, he proposed an allocation of Tk 1,844.43 crore for the ministry. The session, chaired by Deputy Speaker Kaiser Kamal, heard 26 lawmakers submit cut motions. Several MPs discussed foreign policy issues, including the Teesta project, migrant worker challenges in the Middle East, and weaknesses in Rohingya repatriation efforts.

Khalilur emphasized that the proposed budget prioritizes national sovereignty, economic growth, and strategic diplomacy. He noted that most spending supports Bangladesh’s missions abroad and announced new missions in Johor Bahru, Detroit, Buenos Aires, and Dublin. He also confirmed allocations for the Rohingya genocide case at the International Court of Justice and for operational costs of existing missions.