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

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[🇧🇩] The U.S.A.---A Strategic Partner of Bangladesh
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Washington to work closely with Dhaka
US envoy tells Yunus

Washington will closely work with the interim government, especially regarding health, education, labour, governance, and the Rohingya issues, said US Embassy Charge D'Affaires in Dhaka Helen LaFave.

She made the remarks while paying a courtesy call to Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus at the State Guest House Jamuna in Dhaka.

"The US government is happy to congratulate the chief adviser and is looking forward to working closely together," according to a statement of the US charge d'affaires.

She said Washington will support the interim government of Bangladesh and strengthen ties with Dhaka on a range of issues.

The US embassy in Dhaka will resume its consular service this week to expedite visa processing, she said, adding that thousands of Bangladeshi students now study in US universities.

The US has started resettling Rohingya to the US, and Helen LaFave hoped the process would be expedited.

The US is the largest contributor to the Rohingya humanitarian responses, and the amount of monthly food aid for the Rohingya has increased this year after more US funding, she said.

Yunus thanked the US for supporting Bangladesh, including its continued funding for more than one million Rohingya in Bangladesh.

Prof Yunus called for a "combined" effort and "a common platform" among the donors for flood response in Bangladesh.

Helen LaFave raised some concerns over labour and minority issues in Bangladesh, especially in the aftermath of the ouster of the Awami League regime.

Prof Yunus said every citizen in the country is "protected by the constitution" and the interim government is committed to upholding the human rights of all citizens.

Human rights issues, cyber security laws, and the Rapid Action Battalion also came up during the talks.

LaFave said Washington was trying to help Bangladesh set up a prosecutorial service to ensure fair trials in the country.

Meanwhile, UN Refugee Agency Chief Filippo Grandi congratulated Prof Yunus over a call on his assumption as head of the government.

He said Dr Yunus has taken up "an incredible task" to rebuild Bangladesh.

They discussed the Rohingya issue, including about thousands of people who have been displaced by the ongoing conflict in Myanmar's Rakhine state.

Yunus asked for UNHCR's support for the dignified and voluntary return of more than one million Rohingya people to Myanmar.

He also sought assistance from the UN refugee agency to build a better future for young Rohingya children who are growing up in the Bangladesh camps.

Grandi requested the chief adviser to attend a meeting on the Rohingya crisis on the sidelines of the upcoming UNGA in New York.

He also informed that he plans to visit Bangladesh in October this year.​
 

Donald Lu to visit India, Bangladesh 10-16 September
Diplomatic Correspondent Dhaka
Published: 10 Sep 2024, 22: 40

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Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs Donald LuReuters file photo

A delegation of the US is set to visit Bangladesh to discuss what kind of support the country could provide on economic growth, financial stability and development needs to the interim government.

The US State Department disclosed this in a media note Tuesday.

The State Department said Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu will travel to India and Bangladesh from 10 to 16 September.

“Throughout his trip, Assistant Secretary Lu will reaffirm the United States’ commitment to supporting our partners’ economic growth and promoting stability throughout the Indo-Pacific region,” the media note added.

Donald Lu will travel to New Delhi, where he will highlight US-India cooperation to promote development, security, and women’s economic security at the India Ideas Summit, hosted by the US-India Business Council.

He will also co-chair the 8th US-India 2+2 intersessional dialogue, alongside US Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Jedidiah P. Royal and counterparts from the Indian Ministry of External Affairs and Indian Ministry of Defense.

The Dialogue will identify opportunities to enhance the US-India bilateral partnership, including defence cooperation, and expand US-India collaboration in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.

In Dhaka, Donald Lu will join an interagency delegation for meetings with the interim government of Bangladesh.

The delegation will include representatives from the US Department of the Treasury, USAID, and Office of the US Trade Representative.

The US and Bangladeshi officials will discuss how the United States can support Bangladesh’s economic growth, financial stability and development needs.​
 

US delegation's upcoming visit
Published :
Sep 12, 2024 22:14
Updated :
Sep 12, 2024 22:14

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Since the interim government assumed office, the first foreign delegation set to visit Bangladesh -- a high-profile one at that -- will be a US inter-agency team on September 14-15. According to media reports that cited top sources in Washington, the US delegation wants to initiate economic discussions with Bangladesh, intended to support one of the world's largest garment-exporting nations. This, again, is to strengthen its economy during a particularly challenging period.

The delegation will be led by the US Treasury Department and will include officials from various key agencies, such as the State Department, the US Agency for International Development (USAID), and the Office of the US Trade Representative. Brent Neiman, US Assistant Treasury Secretary for International Finance, has expressed optimism about Bangladesh's efforts to implement essential economic reforms, emphasising that the US hopes Bangladesh will address its economic vulnerabilities and lay a solid foundation for sustained growth and enhanced prosperity. He also highlighted Washington's intention to underscore its support for Bangladesh's ongoing collaboration with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and other global financial institutions for enhanced economic growth by facilitating financial-sector reforms and improving fiscal sustainability. The discussions with the US team are expected to cover fiscal and monetary policy, as well as the health of the financial system.

Besides the issues that have surfaced lately in the country following the fall of the former government, about which the interim government is particularly concerned, there exist longstanding trade and commerce-related issues with the US that need to be resolved and eased. The scrapping of GSP by the US on some Bangladeshi products years ago is one to start with. Although the products are small in number, lifting of the embargo will surely demonstrate goodwill for bilateral trade. The US being the single largest export destination of Bangladesh's readymade garments, keeping up the export momentum is crucial not only for export but equally importantly for the nearly four million people employed in the sector. To make the process smooth, there is the need for easing procurement protocols that occasionally disrupt the export chain. Labour rights issues were a subject of concern for exports in the past. With things better placed now, including workplace environment, the Bangladesh side may seek support of the US while assuring the delegation of actions required for addressing the remaining irritants. Restoring the dismal financial and banking sector, rendered so by defaulted loans and money laundering, may figure as an important issue for discussion. Bangladesh side may seek US help in bringing back the laundered money by creating a mechanism involving international agencies. In the wake of the depleting foreign exchange reserves, Bangladesh may also seek US support in its engagements with the IMF and other international financial organisations. Currently, the interim government is in the process of negotiating a credit deal with the IMF.

The upcoming visit of the US delegation is expected to create a regular forum for discussion on economic matters from time to time with the prospect of opening up avenues for cooperation to the mutual benefit of both countries.​
 
Partner is not a correct word. In which area will US will have partnership with BD? US want some strategic location in bay of Bengal to keep an eye on China. BD may provide some land facing bay of Bengal to get some aid in exchange. This arrangement can last till US requires that land. Once that requirement cease to exit, any sort of relationship will go in cold box.
 
Partner is not a correct word. In which area will US will have partnership with BD? US want some strategic location in bay of Bengal to keep an eye on China. BD may provide some land facing bay of Bengal to get some aid in exchange. This arrangement can last till US requires that land. Once that requirement cease to exit, any sort of relationship will go in cold box.

The same comments apply to India as well.

Many in Indian media are saying that the ouster of Hasina was a US plot.

Modi thinking that he was so important that he can meddle in Bangladesh, has been proven quite wrong now.

Next on US agenda is independence of Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur if not all seven sisters. Without any approval of India, I might add.

Americans throw India a few favors in terms of Backoffice business and Indian politicians start thinking they matter in geopolitics. A fool's errand.
 

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