Dhaka, Feb. 3 -- Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain has laid emphasis on maintaining "balanced relations" while pursuing its broader foreign policy, noting that the term "non-aligned" has become actually almost "defunct" these days.

"For a country like Bangladesh, it is extremely important that we maintain a balanced relationship," he said on Monday, adding that very few (countries) are truly non-aligned.

Hossain made the remarks while responding to a question at an international seminar at the Foreign Service Academy.

While speaking at the closing session of the seminar, the Foreign Adviser said Bangladesh has been very firm on many issues of foreign policy, including the Rohingya crisis.

He also referred to the relations betw...