[🇧🇩] The U.S.A.---A Strategic Partner of Bangladesh

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Source : https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/diplomacy/news/bangladesh-us-ties-deepen-3550741

Bangladesh-US ties to deepen​

Says Hasan Mahmud about US official’s visit

Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud said yesterday that the US official Afreen Akhter's visit will deepen and broaden ties between Bangladesh and the US.

He made the remarks when a journalist wanted to know about the upcoming visit of US Deputy Assistant Secretary at the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs Afreen Akhter, who is scheduled to be in Dhaka on Saturday.

The foreign minister also said the letter sent by US President Joe Biden to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is important to further strengthen the relationship between the two countries.

"The visit of the US official will deepen and broaden the relationship between the two countries."

This is going to be the first visit by any US official after the January 7 election.

Apart from bilateral issues and other areas of mutual interest, including economic growth and development, the Rohingya issue may also come up for discussion, according to a diplomatic source.

Afreen visited Bangladesh before the national election.

She is likely to meet senior officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

At a media briefing on February 14, she said, "We have a tremendous amount of work ongoing developing free media in Bangladesh, working with civil society, and working with labour organisers across the spectrum to build up these institutions of democracy that will enable Bangladesh to become more democratic over the longer term."

Afreen visited Dhaka and Cox's Bazar on October 16-17 last year and met with senior government officials, civil society members, Rohingya refugees, and representatives from humanitarian organisations.

FM Hasan Mahmud also told reporters that the United States' veto against a draft UN Security Council resolution, demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, is disappointing.

The resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in the Palestinian Gaza Strip was presented to the UN Security Council (UNSC) by Algeria. It was voted on last Tuesday.
Of the UNSC's 15 member states, 13 voted in favour of the resolution. Another permanent member, the United Kingdom, abstained from voting, while the US vetoed it.​

 

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Why does Bangladesh matter to the United States?

In the 1971 Liberation War of Bangladesh, the United States tilted towards Pakistan. However, within four months of its independence, the United States recognised Bangladesh and gradually developed good relations in every dimension, from trade to security. Bangladesh and the United States ha

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Why does Bangladesh matter to the United States?​

DR. MD. SHARIFUL ISLAM

Published :​

Jun 07, 2023 13:53

Updated :​

Jun 07, 2023 13:55

In the 1971 Liberation War of Bangladesh, the United States tilted towards Pakistan. However, within four months of its independence, the United States recognised Bangladesh and gradually developed good relations in every dimension, from trade to security.

Bangladesh and the United States have also commenced Annual Partnership Dialogue, which is crucial in deepening Dhaka-Washington ties.

US Deputy Assistant Secretary Afreen Akhter recently said Bangladesh has been an important strategic partner. Akhter also mentioned that the United States looks forward to a stronger relationship in the next 50 years.

According to the US State Department (2023), 'Bangladesh is an important regional partner on economic, climate, humanitarian, and security priorities'. Against this backdrop, this write-up focuses on why Bangladesh matters to the United States.

Bangladesh's geo-strategic importance

The geo-strategic location of Bangladesh makes it an important country for the United States in the context of the growing geopolitical rivalry and considering the geopolitical shift from the Middle East to the Asia-Pacific region and notably South Asia. In the competing geopolitical connectivity projects, Bangladesh has become an important country.

To understand the growing geo-strategic importance to the United States, it becomes necessary to look at several important policy documents.

Bangladesh's geo-strategic importance was reflected in the 2012 Fact Sheet of US Relations with Bangladesh, prepared for the US Department of State. It has also been claimed that Bangladesh is a key US strategic partner in South Asia' (USDS, 2012).

Former American Ambassador to Bangladesh Dan Mozena (2013) observed that Bangladesh is a country that matters a lot to America and to the world.

In addition, in a letter to members of Congress in May 2013, Dan Mozena warned, "Good relations with Bangladesh are vital to regional security and United States strategic interests."

The geo-strategic importance of Bangladesh was also reflected in a 2010 Congressional Research Service report titled - 'Bangladesh: Political and Strategic Developments and US Interests.' It argued that Bangladesh is a nation of strategic importance not only to the South Asian sub-region but to the larger geopolitical dynamics of Asia.

Bangladesh has played, and will likely continue to play, a role in the shifting regional balance of power between India and China. In the policy document, Bangladesh's geo-strategic location and its importance were also highlighted: Bangladesh is situated at the northern extreme of the Bay of Bengal and could potentially be a state of increasing interest in the evolving strategic dynamics between India and China.

This importance could be accentuated by the development of Bangladesh's energy reserves and regional energy and trade routes to China and India. Hence, Bangladesh is of interest to the United States for its role in the larger geopolitical dynamics of South Asia.

Economic interests

From the US perspective, economic interests stand out as the single dominant factor in its relations with Bangladesh, which is evident from a listing of foreign policy objectives published by the State Department in 1976.

Notably, on that list, four out of five foreign policy objectives of the United States in Bangladesh were directly or indirectly related to the economic interests of the US.

Although it was the 1976 US foreign policy objectives, to date, it remains the same as the Congressional Report 2010 testified the same while pointing out that American interests with Bangladesh include promoting development, trade, energy, democracy support, countering militant Islamists, and working together in peace operations.

President Obama had also emphasised how economically important Bangladesh's market is to the prosperity of the American people. US firms recognise the country's potential and are eager to do business. In fact, one can argue that trade and investment are two key economic interests of the US in Bangladesh.

Security issues

Nurturing a warm relationship with Bangladesh also serves the security interest of the United States. The policy paper Bangladesh: Political and Strategic Developments and US Interests identified that Bangladesh and the United States have a common interest in countering extremism and their ideology.

According to the US Department of State, Bangladesh's efforts at development, countering violent extremism, assisting international peacekeeping, and improving regional connectivity are vital to regional and global stability.

In addition, in the United States's Country Reports on Terrorism 2011 and Country Reports on Terrorism 2012, Bangladesh's cooperation with the United States in combating transnational terrorist groups was acknowledged.

Bangladeshis in the US

The Bangladeshi diaspora in the United States contributes significantly to the latter's socio-economic development. According to the data from Pew Research, the Bangladeshi population living in the United States was 57,000 in 2000, which increased to 208,000 in 2019.

Bangladeshi diaspore is better educated than the locals in some ways. For instance, according to Pew Research, 26 per cent of the Bangladeshi population attained Bachelor's degree in 2019, while 20 per cent of Americans attained the degree.

Similarly, while 23 per cent Bangladeshi population completed post-graduate degrees, only 13 per cent of Americans attained post-graduate degrees.

These educated Bangladeshi people contribute immensely to the socio-economic development of the United States. In addition, the Bangladeshi diaspora also adds a rich Bengali culture to the American culture.

Demographics

Bangladesh matters to the United States because the country is the fourth-largest Muslim country and the eighth-largest populated country in the world. Bangladesh is popularly known as a moderate, democratic, peaceful Muslim nation that promotes international peace and security, international justice, etc.

While in the post-9/11 era, many Muslim countries hated the United States because of its war on terror policy, Bangladesh maintained good relations. Thus, maintaining a good relationship with Bangladesh also serves the strategic interest of the United States to the wider Muslim world.

Dr Md. Shariful Islam is an Associate Professor of International Relations at the University of Rajshahi. He is also an adjunct research fellow at the KRF Center for Bangladesh and Global Affairs, Dhaka.​

 

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Challenges in Bangladesh-US relations

US’ push for democracy and human rights has definitely angered the Bangladesh government.

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Challenges in Bangladesh-US relations​

Visual: Star

On March 26, 2023, US President Joe Biden greeted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on the occasion of Bangladesh's Independence Day. Biden also reminded Hasina to hold free and fair elections in December 2023. "As Bangladesh approaches its next election, I am reminded of the deep value both of our nations' people place on democracy, equality, respect for human rights, and free and fair elections," he said.

The United States has placed a strong emphasis on human rights and democracy in its foreign relations. The promotion of these values has been a key part of US foreign policy, and has been pursued through a variety of means, including diplomatic efforts, economic incentives and sanctions, and military intervention in some cases – even though its relations with some authoritarian states put question marks on its declared policy of upholding democracy and human rights. The US under the Biden Presidency has also been focusing on these two values to deal with Bangladesh, which was partially absent during the Trump administration.
​

Since 2014, Bangladesh has been grappling with the challenges of upholding democratic values and human rights, which have been exacerbated in recent times. The two most recent elections, which were held under the Awami League government in 2014 and 2018, were heavily criticised by the international community, with widespread human rights violations occurring during this period. The regime has employed various means to suppress dissent, including the Digital Security Act (DSA).

The United States and Bangladesh have had diplomatic relations since 1972. The US has become one of Bangladesh's largest trading partners, with over $8 billion in bilateral trade in 2021, and has provided development assistance in areas such as education, health, and economic growth. The US and Bangladesh also work together to combat terrorism and promote regional stability through joint military exercises and training for Bangladesh's security forces.

The US-Bangladesh relationship has had some tensions due to human rights concerns. The US has criticised Bangladesh's government for cracking down on political opposition, and limiting freedom of speech and assembly. The US has imposed sanctions on the Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) for violating human rights. The US human rights reports of 2021 and 2022 have highlighted issues of enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, political marginalisation, and election rigging. As a result, Bangladesh was not invited to the Biden Democracy Summit, signalling a shift in US policy towards Bangladesh.

US' push for democracy and human rights has definitely angered the Bangladesh government. Its bottled rage has bubbled up in various ways. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina considers US sanctions on Russia as a form of human rights violations. "I don't really know what rationale there is for making people suffer like this. In a way, this is another violation of human rights. Depriving people of what they are owed… I hope the US sees the necessity of stepping aside from that decision [of putting Russia under sanctions]. We hope they prefer to punish a single country instead of the people of the world and see that everyone wants it withdrawn." Recently, Hasina commented in the parliament that, "It (US) has the power to topple the government in any country and particularly the Muslim countries."

Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque blamed the US for not recognising the genocide against Bangladesh in 1971. He said that the United States has recognised the genocide of the Rohingya in Myanmar. But it did not recognise the genocide that took place in Bangladesh, because it had direct involvement in it. At that time, the governments of the US and UK were not in favour of our Liberation War. But the people of those countries and the world were on our side.

That said, Bangladesh's apathy towards the US is quite clear. Meanwhile, China and Russia have extended their hands with "baskets of money", while Bangladesh is facing serious economic crises. Geopolitical interests for both US and China-Russia are well noted in the Indo-Pacific region.

The US invited Bangladesh to join the Quad in October 2020, citing the country as a key partner in the Indo-Pacific region, and later invited it to the US-led IPS (Indo-Pacific Strategy). China responded by warning that Bangladesh's relations with China would be harmed if it joined the Quad, while also offering Bangladesh the chance to join its Global Development Initiative and Global Security Initiative. The US and Russia have also engaged in a war of words over Bangladesh, with the Russian Foreign Ministry accusing the US ambassador in Dhaka of trying to influence the domestic process of the country, and the Russian Embassy in Dhaka criticising countries with "hegemonic ambitions" that interfere in the internal affairs of others under the pretext of protecting democratic values.

The ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict has resulted in a surge of high-level visits from China and the United States to Bangladesh, highlighting Bangladesh's growing importance in the Indo-Pacific region. This geopolitical reality is crucial for Bangladesh's future trajectory. For the first time, Bangladesh has articulated its distinct objectives in the Indo-Pacific region, aligning with the conceptual framework advocated by India, the US, Japan, and Australia. While Bangladesh has traditionally pursued a non-aligned foreign policy, recent developments suggest a potential shift towards aligning more closely with the IPS promoted by the United States and its regional allies. However, it remains to be seen how China and Russia will react to this shift and how Bangladesh will navigate its relationships with them.

It is unclear how successful Bangladesh's "pleasing all" strategy has been. An agreement has been reached between Bangladesh and Russia to use the Chinese yuan to pay for a nuclear power plant, but the United States has raised objections to this arrangement. Amid this situation, Bangladesh is attempting to manage the US through other Quad members like India and Japan. On April 26, 2023, under the agreement for the use of Chittagong and Mongla ports for the transportation of goods to and from India, the National Board of Revenue (NBR) released a standing order pertaining to the transhipment of Indian goods. During her visit to Japan in April 2023, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said that, "We are happy that Bangladesh and Japan have successfully elevated the bilateral relations to a 'Strategic Partnership' from the existing 'Comprehensive Partnership'."

It appears that the relationship between the United States and Bangladesh is going through some strain. Bangladesh is endeavouring to handle its relations with the US in the lead-up to the next election. Navigating this dynamic geopolitical situation will require astute diplomatic strategies and judicious decision-making on Bangladesh's part. While attempting to maintain relationships with China, Russia, and the US, Bangladesh will also need to prioritise human rights and democratic principles, particularly in the context of potentially embracing the IPS.

Shafi Md Mostofa (PhD) is associate professor of World Religions and Culture at Dhaka University's Faculty of Arts and an adjunct lecturer at the University of New England, Australia.​

 

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Current Trends and Future Prospects in Bangladesh-US Relations - Australian Institute of International Affairs

Since US recognition of Bangladesh’s independence in 1972, the trajectory of the relationship has witnessed a consistent upward trend. In 2022, both countries celebrated the auspicious event of 50 years bilateral relations.

www.internationalaffairs.org.au

Current Trends and Future Prospects in Bangladesh-US Relations​

02 FEB 2023
By Shafiqul Elahi

Since US recognition of Bangladesh’s independence in 1972, the trajectory of the relationship has witnessed a consistent upward trend. In 2022, both countries celebrated the auspicious event of 50 years bilateral relations.

For the last two decades, the US focused its attention mostly toward the Middle East. Hence, it had a limited focus on South Asia. However, with the 2018 revival of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) and the subsequent development of the Indo-Pacific concept, the US has renewed its focus on South Asia and has emerged as one of the crucial actors in the region.

Current Trends

Bangladesh and the US have always shared favourable relations, however US sanctions on the Rapid Action Battalion, a special forces security unit, in December 2021 surprised many and immediately took over the narrative in Dhaka.

What is important at this juncture was that leaders in Dhaka responded, perhaps counterintuitively, by bolstering diplomatic relations with Washington. Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu praised Bangladesh for its “tremendous progress” in this regard.

Regular diplomatic communications and state-level visits are increasingly taking place. In the last two years, 18 mid- and high-level visits have occurred. Foreign Minister Abul Kalam Abdul Momen met with his counterpart, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in 2022. Further visits to the US have included seven Bangladeshi delegations, with eleven US delegations visiting in return, including the latest visit by Rear Admiral Eileen Laubacher and Assistant Secretary Lu.

Both countries share mutual interests in counterterrorism, climate change, Rohingya repatriation, and liberal values.

Additionally, authorities in Bangladesh and the US share the same views on Rohingya ethnic cleansing. On Ukraine, Bangladesh maintains a neutral political stance and complies with US sanctions. The recent events of the Ursa Major controversy can be mentioned in this regard. Ursa Major is a US-sanctioned ship that changed its name to Sparta-3 and carried goods for Bangladesh’s nuclear power plant but was not allowed to berth and was subsequently turned around by authorities.

Increasing cooperation among the countries can be easily identified through several dialogues and joint training programs that have taken place in the last two years. Bangladesh and the US held the Partnership Dialogue and Security Dialogue in 2022 after a pause due to the pandemic. The dialogues are annual arrangements between the countries and have taken place every year since 2012. The US Navy also attended Bangladesh’s International Fleet Review in December 2022.

Apart from this engagement, political dissatisfaction is also a part of the relations. The US is dissatisfied with the internal political situation of Bangladesh, while leaders in Dhaka also see such intervention as contradictory to diplomatic norms. The issue began when the US Mission in Dhaka gave statements that created a perception the US was supporting the opposition in politics. The government perceived this as meddling in internal affairs of the state – in contradiction of the Vienna Convention. However, it seems that through Lu’s latest visit, both countries have had the chance to share their perspectives through diplomatic communication, and the issue has largely abated.

On the economy, Bangladesh and the US share complex interdependence. Bilateral trade is growing fast, reaching US$13 billion in 2022. In 2021, it was $10.5 billion, and in 2020 it was $7.8 billion. Bangladesh also has a surplus of $7.78 billion. Such burgeoning trade has also made the US the third-largest trading partner for Bangladesh behind China and India. The US is also the single largest market for the country’s ready-made garment exports – the main export product worth $46.6 billion in 2022. The US is the largest investor in Bangladesh’s energy sector and the largest source of foreign direct investment more generally. Moreover, Bangladesh is also the third-largest recipient of US aid in South Asia.

During the pandemic, the US donated more than 100 million vaccine doses to Bangladesh, a number that accounts for more than 70 percent of all international COVID-19 vaccine donations. US vaccines played an instrumental role in Bangladesh’s national inoculation process.

This goodwill has translated into greater favourability ratings among the Bangladeshi people toward the US. While the last Pew Research in 2014 showed that 76 percent of Bangladeshis held a favourable view toward the US, this has likely increased since COVID-19. The historic people-to-people relationship began during the independence war, when US citizens collected funds for Bangladesh’s independence. Currently, more than 220,000 Bangladeshis lives in the US. This large diasporic community is contributing to both US society and economy.

Indicatively, America is very popular among the Bangladeshi people, particularly those who seek to pursue higher studies. The US offers several scholarship and skilled migration schemes for Bengladeshi applicants, including the popular Fulbright award. Immediately after the pandemic, more than 10,500 Bangladeshi students went to the US for education, the highest among the countries where Bangladeshis pursued higher studies.

Issues of Priority

In Washington, authorities want Bangladesh to align itself more with US principles on human rights and democracy.

For leaders in Bangladesh, the balancing act between seeking friendship while not giving into demands has been difficult. The sanctions against the RAB and its seven officials also came as a part of US human rights policy, and many see such efforts as a coercive method to have Dhaka join a US-led bloc against China. The US also wants to sign two defence agreements with Bangladesh, namely the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) and the Acquisition Cross-Servicing Agreement, in its search to strengthen security in the Indo-Pacific region. Washington also wants Bangladesh to join in its Indo-Pacific Strategy (IPS), which many see as aimed at countering China. This is difficult for leaders who want to balance economic interests with both China and the US. So far, Dhaka has not rejected these proposals, and it is currently “studying” the IPS.

Leaders in Bangladesh are keen to focus on US investment and bilateral trade. The suspended Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) is also on Bangladesh’s agenda. The GSP is an arrangement under which Bangladesh enjoys duty-free access to the US market. This arrangement ceased in 2013, though leaders in Dhaka are hopeful that it might begin again for them.

Future Prospects

As Bangladesh is a tiger economy with a good investment environment, there are strong prospects that bilateral trade and investment will increase in coming years. Bangladesh has identified information communications technology as its “thrust” sector and wants US investment to help it evolve. This will no doubt diversify US investment in Bangladesh.

Moreover, Bangladesh has accepted the draft of GSOMIA, meaning potential new sources for defense procurement from the US, benefitting Bangladesh’s Forces Goal-2030.

In summation, the individual sanctions have been limited, suggesting that recent disputes are short-term and not impactful. Beyond the disputes, both countries have mutual interests that are likely to increase in political and economic alignment. Diplomatic engagement and the deepening of relations can be helpful in this context. The reciprocal diplomatic visits over the last two years have been fruitful and have helped to transform the relationship. This should continue.

Shafiqul Elahi is a retired government official in Bangladesh, currently pursuing a career in academia. His first book, Institutional Development and Bangladesh, is forthcoming. Elahi often contributes to news and analysis portals including Modern Diplomacy, The Geopolitics, Newage, Daily Sun, Daily Observer, and Bangladesh Post.​

 

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US supports a prosperous, democratic Bangladesh

Says US embassy in Dhaka after its delegation holds a series of meetings with govt officials, opposition and civil groups

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US supports a prosperous, democratic Bangladesh​

Says US embassy in Dhaka after its delegation holds a series of meetings with govt officials, opposition and civil groups

The US supports a prosperous, secure, and democratic Bangladesh -- a message that the visiting US delegation communicated to Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud today.

"We discussed with the Foreign Minister, how our two countries can work on mutual interests, including economic development, security, refugees, climate, labor, and trade," said US Embassy in a verified Facebook post after the delegation held meeting with Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud at the foreign ministry.

"Bangladesh is an important partner in the Indo-Pacific region," the embassy said.

US Special Assistant to President Biden, Eileen Loubacher led the delegation that also included USAID Assistant Administrator Michael Schiffer and State Department Deputy Assistant Secretary Afreen Akhter.

They arrived in Dhaka on Thursday on a three-day visit.

The delegation met Environment and Climate Change Minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury, Prime Minister's Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman F Rahman, Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen, BNP leaders Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Amir Khasru Mahmud, civil society leaders and labour leaders on Saturday and Sunday.

The US embassy said US is one of the largest investors in Bangladesh and its largest single country export market.

The United States stands ready to help Bangladesh create a business climate that attracts more investment from the US, the US embassy said.

On the meeting between the US delegation and Saber Hossain Chowdhury, the US embassy said Bangladesh is the 7th most vulnerable country to climate change and Washington will be supporting Bangladesh in tackling climate change challenges.

"From training students on protecting wetlands and sustaining forests, to equipping young climate activists with the resources to tackle air pollution, the United States is committed to working with Bangladesh to address the climate crisis."

They discussed the ways of working together to tackle this shared challenge.

Following the delegation's meeting with Salman F Rahman, the US embassy highlighted a longstanding partnership of over 50 years with the government and people of Bangladesh. During this time, the US has contributed over $8 billion to address various critical issues including public health, education, energy, environment, food security, and natural disasters, it said in a Facebook post.

"We look forward to working with Bangladesh to enhance economic investment over the next fifty years and beyond," it added.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud told journalists that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has written a letter to US President Joe Biden.

A copy of the letter was handed over to President Biden's Special Assistant Eileen Loubacher today. The original letter will be handed over to the White House by Bangladesh Ambassador to the US Mohammad Imran.​

 

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Saber sees scope for strengthening US-Bangladesh ties on climate issues

Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury today expressed confidence that the bilateral relations between Bangladesh and the United States will strengthen, driven by collaborative environmental and climate initiatives

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Saber sees scope for strengthening US-Bangladesh ties on climate issues​

Photo: PID

Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury today expressed confidence that the bilateral relations between Bangladesh and the United States will strengthen, driven by collaborative environmental and climate initiatives.

"These are priority areas for the United States. So, the United States wants to cooperate with us in programs to combat climate change," he said.

Saber said this to the media after Afreen Akhter, deputy assistant secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs at the US Department of State, held a meeting with him at his office at the Secretariat today, according to a press release. "We discussed their cooperation in addressing our environmental and climate change needs," he added.

"We want to establish a new platform by forming a fund of USD 15 billion to combat climate change. All our development partners can help there. I am optimistic that America will be too. They will keep our needs in mind in the US plan," he said.

"We discussed how Bangladesh-US relations can be further strengthened in the future," said the minister.

The discussions underscored the importance of collaborative efforts between the US and Bangladesh in addressing environmental challenges, tackling climate change, preserving natural resources, and promoting sustainable development, the release said.

Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to working together to address environmental challenges and ensure a sustainable benefit for present and future generations of the region, it said.

Ambassador of Bangladesh to the US Muhammad Imran, Helen LaFave, Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy in Bangladesh; Michael Schiffer, assistant administrator for the Bureau for Asia at the US Agency for International Development (USAID) were present at the meeting, among others.​

 

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Dhaka, Washington eye new chapter in bilateral ties

Says Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud after meeting US delegation

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Dhaka, Washington eye new chapter in bilateral ties​

Says Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud after meeting US delegation

Photo: Facebook/US Embassy in Dhaka

Dhaka and Washington want to begin a new chapter in their bilateral relationship, said Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud today after the first meeting with the visiting US delegation since the January 7 election.

"We're keen to initiate a new phase in our relationship. There's mutual willingness from both sides," he informed journalists at the foreign ministry.

Eileen Laubacher, special assistant to the US president and senior director at the US National Security Council, led a delegation to Bangladesh.

Other members of the delegation include US State Department Deputy Assistant Secretary Afreen Akhter and USAID Assistant Administrator Michael Schiffer.

After the meeting, Laubacher told journalists: "We want to advance our relationship."

The US delegation yesterday met top BNP leaders and spoke about political situation in the country. They also talked about political repression including the jailing of thousands of opposition leaders.

The delegation also held a meeting with Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen at the State Guest House Padma.

This morning, the US delegation also met a group of civil society members and spoke of human rights and democracy.
When asked whether election, democracy, and human rights issues were addressed with the US delegation, the foreign minister responded in the negative.

Hasan Mahmud said he requested the lifting of the sanctions imposed against Rab in 2021.

"The US officials shared with us five observations," he stated, without further elaboration.

Earlier, the US officials said the Rab needs to be reformed and those guilty should face accountability.

The meeting also discussed the issue of Myanmar crisis.

Hasan Mahmud said the Myanmar instability has created security concerns for Bangladesh and the region.

He did not say if the US side had any response to this.

The US has been supporting the Rohingyas for their humanitarian needs and will continue to do so, he said.

Besides, he said, the US and Bangladesh hold similar position on various international issues and they discussed those as well.​

 

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Afreen meets Fakhrul, Khasru

The US delegation arrived in Dhaka on a three-day visit yesterday and held a meeting with BNP leaders on the current political landscape in the country.

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Afreen meets Fakhrul, Khasru​

US to work with Bangladesh on shared vision

Afreen Akhter, US Department of State deputy assistant secretary for South and Central Asia, and Peter Haas, US ambassador to Bangladesh, exchange pleasantries with BNP Secretary General Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and BNP Standing Committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury yesterday. The US delegation, which is on a three-day visit to Dhaka, held a meeting with BNP leaders on the current political landscape in the country. Photo: Courtesy of US embassy Dhaka

The US delegation arrived in Dhaka on a three-day visit yesterday and held a meeting with BNP leaders on the current political landscape in the country.

They also spoke about the opposition members who are in prison.

Afreen Akhter, US Department of State deputy assistant secretary for South and Central Asia, and Peter Haas, US ambassador to Bangladesh, were present, among others, at the meeting with BNP Secretary General Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and BNP Standing Committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury.

Other members of the US delegation include Eileen Laubacher, special assistant to US President Joe Biden and also National Security Council's senior director for South Asia, and Michael Schiffer, assistant administrator for Asia at the USAID.

"Engaging in constructive dialogue is key to understanding different perspectives and finding common ground," US embassy wrote in X, formerly Twitter, with a photo.

"We welcomed a fruitful discussion with @bdbnp78 's Secretary General about the current political landscape in Bangladesh and the thousands of opposition members in prison. Looking forward to continued engagement," it said.

Meanwhile, apart from meeting the BNP leaders, Akhter also held a meeting with the labour rights activists and trade union leaders in Dhaka.

Schiffer joined USAID Mission Director in Bangladesh Reed Aeschliman and Shikho CEO Shahir Chowdhury to sign a memorandum of understanding to collaborate in building the job skills of Bangladeshi youth and unlocking employment opportunities.

Today, the delegation is scheduled to hold separate meetings with Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen, Prime Minister's Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman F Rahman and other officials of the ministries of foreign affairs, home, law and labour.

Eileen Laubacher is likely to focus on the Myanmar crisis, its implications on Bangladesh, the Rohingya issue, defence relations and the Indo-Pacific Strategy (IPS).

In a statement, the US embassy yesterday said the US delegation during its visit will discuss ways to strengthen diplomatic ties, address challenges, and promote a shared vision for the advancement of mutual interests in the Indo-Pacific region.

"The United States remains committed to partnering with Bangladesh to advance our shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific, to supporting human rights, addressing climate change, advancing regional resilience to transnational threats, and promoting economic reforms," the statement said.​