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

[Saif]

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.​

 

[Saif]

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.​

 

[Saif]

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.​

 

[Saif]

It seems like the U.S.A. is putting more emphasis on Hasina's support for Indo-Pacific Strategy and lease of oil and gas wells in Bay of Bengal to some U.S. multinational companies than restoring democracy in Bangladesh. The U.S.A. has put Hasina's election engineering on the back burner.

Bangladesh, US look to patch up differences

After some strains over the past two years, Dhaka and Washington now want to begin a new chapter in the bilateral relationship -- a desire that was expressed by both during a US delegation’s three-day visit that ended yesterday.

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Bangladesh, US look to patch up differences​

Eileen Laubacher

After some strains over the past two years, Dhaka and Washington now want to begin a new chapter in the bilateral relationship -- a desire that was expressed by both during a US delegation's three-day visit that ended yesterday.

At the same time, the US delegation's multi level engagements, including with opposition BNP, labour leaders, and civil society members, in Dhaka also reflect that Washington is not leaving aside the values that it had been speaking of, said foreign policy analysts.​

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The visit by the US delegation was the first since the January 7 polls in Bangladesh.

The delegation was led by President Biden's Special Assistant and National Security Council's Senior Director Rear Admiral Eileen Laubacher. It also included USAID Assistant Administrator Michael Schiffer and State Department Deputy Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asia Afreen Akhter.

They held meetings with the Prime Minister's Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman F Rahman, Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud, Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen, opposition BNP leaders Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Amir Khashru Mahmud Chowdhury; labour leaders and members of the civil society.

The US' sanctions against RAB in December 2021, announcing an election-related visa policy in May last year and reiterating calls for free and fair elections caused some strains in its relationship with Bangladesh.

However, analysts said Washington now wants to take forward the multidimensional relationship with Dhaka, but will not bury its concerns on democracy, labour rights, good governance, civic space and media freedom. It will, however, maintain a low profile over the issues.

"The US is a major development partner of Bangladesh. It played a big role for Bangladesh's development over the last 52 years. We discussed how we can deepen and broaden our relationship and begin a new chapter," Hasan Mahmud said after meeting the delegation on Sunday.

He said the US also expressed its willingness to improve the relationship, which was communicated in President Biden's letter to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

During the meeting, a copy of Prime Minister's letter to Biden was also handed over to Laubacher. The original copy will reach the White House through the Bangladesh embassy in Washington.

Bangladesh exports products worth about $10 billion to the US, which has contributed over $8 billion to in development funding and is the largest foreign direct investor. It is the largest donor for Rohingyas' humanitarian assistance.

The US also assured support to Bangladesh in forming a new fund of $15 billion to combat climate change.

The US embassy in Dhaka termed Bangladesh an important partner to Washington in the Indo-Pacific region, adding that it supports a prosperous, secure, and democratic Bangladesh.

In a verified Facebook post, the embassy wrote, "We discussed how our two countries can work on mutual interests, including economic development, security, refugees, climate, labor, and trade."

Speaking to The Daily Star, M Humayun Kabir, president of Bangladesh Enterprise Institute and former ambassador to the US, said, "The US is eager to work with Bangladesh in a larger context including for economic development, environment, geostrategy, Rohingya crisis etc."

The US wants to understand Bangladesh's position on security and the Indo-Pacific Strategy, the status of labour rights, civic and political space.

"Their engagements with the relevant stakeholders mean that the US did not move away from its position, but is instead maintaining low-profile. They may not speak about everything in public but Dhaka needs to read their language and act accordingly."

Kabir added that Bangladesh's main priority is drawing foreign investment, which requires making it easier to do business here while improving governance and rule of law, and ensuring security of the businesses – aspects that US businesses want before investing.

During the meeting with Salman F Rahman, the US delegation spoke of funding Bangladesh through the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), but noted several conditions, which it would communicate in detail soon.

Earlier, USAID officials had said Dhaka needs to improve labour rights in order to access DFC funding.

Meanwhile, labour leaders said the US delegation, while meeting with them, spoke about making the registration of trade unions easier, reforming labour laws, and increasing wages.

On the other hand, Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud discussed lifting the sanctions against RAB. In response, the delegation mentioned five observations, which the minister did not elaborate on.

Earlier, US officials said reforming RAB and holding the agency accountable are prerequisites for lifting the sanction.

Analysts consider Laubacher's visit significant, given the security concerns created by the Myanmar crisis.

Asked about Laubacher's response to Bangladesh's concerns, Salman F Rahman said the US is keeping watch on the Myanmar situation and also asked Bangladesh to do the same.

Asked, security expert Air Cdre (Retd) Ishfaq Ilahi Choudhury said it is good that Dhaka and Washington exchanged views on the Myanmar situation – something that Bangladesh also needs to do with India and China, though the countries have a difference of interests in Myanmar.

"Our position is to ensure stability in Myanmar and the Rohingya repatriation. Without that, doing business and connectivity with Myanmar will be challenging," he said.

Hasan Mahmud reiterated Bangladesh's steadfast position for peace and against any form of war and asked the US to use its leverage to achieve a permanent ceasefire in Gaza. He also expressed his hope for the Russia-Ukraine war to end.

The minister further requested Washington to extradite Bangabandhu's self-confessed killer Rashed Chowdhury from the US.​

 

[Saif]

US' messaging towards Bangladesh stressing on positivity, not pressure: Kugelman

The US has concluded that smooth relations with Bangladesh are a strategic imperative and its messaging in relation to the country is emphasising positivity and potential, not public pressure

www.thedailystar.net

US' messaging towards Bangladesh stressing on positivity, not pressure: Kugelman​

Michael Kugelman

The US has concluded that smooth relations with Bangladesh are a strategic imperative and its messaging in relation to the country is emphasising positivity and potential, not public pressure.

Michael Kugelman, director for South Asia Institute at the Washington-based Wilson Center, made this observation in the reputed American magazine "Foreign Policy" in its February 29 edition.

His comment comes after the first visit to Bangladesh by a US delegation since the country's 12th parliamentary polls on January 7.

The delegation comprised US National Security Council's Senior Director Eileen Laubacher, State Department Deputy Assistant Secretary Afreen Akhter and USAID Assistant Administrator Michael Schiffer.

Their discussions also focused on climate change, trade, the Rohingya refugee crisis, and labour rights. The delegation met with senior officials, business executives, civil society organisations, and top opposition leaders and the agenda included strengthening diplomatic ties and advancing shared interests in the Indo-Pacific region.

The visit came amid an apparent shift in bilateral relations, especially in terms of tone and messaging, as in the months ahead of the January 7 elections, the US took strong steps to promote human rights and democracy, including through sanctions, visa restrictions, and public criticism.

The State Department also characterised the voting as not being free or fair.

However, on February 6, US President Joe Biden sent a letter to Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina that welcomed the "next chapter" in the US-Bangladesh relationship. It did not mention rights or democracy.

"Geopolitical factors also play a role in the new US approach. The conflict in neighbouring Myanmar is intensifying, and Bangladesh hosts hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees but seeks to repatriate them. Washington wants to ensure that it has sufficient diplomatic space to engage with Dhaka on these sensitive issues," Kugelman wrote in the magazine.

Additionally, the foreign policy expert said with US foreign-policy attention increasingly focused on instability in the Middle East, the US wants to reduce diplomatic headaches elsewhere.

However, he said, the shift in US-Bangladesh relations isn't as sharp as it may seem. Despite tensions over the election, ties were already deepening, especially in the areas identified by Biden as priorities in his letter: trade, defence, climate change, and humanitarian issues.

"Furthermore, the focus on human rights and democracy will continue," Kugelman said referring to Afreen Akhter's meeting with opposition leaders and the discussion on "thousands of opposition members in prison".

Kugelman thinks Dhaka remains a test case for Washington's values-based foreign policy, but the experiment is now being conducted with less rigour.

"The relationship's tone and messaging are emphasising positivity and potential, not public pressure. Ultimately, this reflects that, for now, the United States has concluded that smooth relations with Bangladesh are a strategic imperative."

One of the possibilities for the US' turnaround is Washington's desire to distance itself from the highly charged political environment in Dhaka. The more US officials publicly opine about human rights and democracy in Bangladesh, the more they risk getting dragged into it, Michael Kugelman said.

Also, the repeated US public pressure on Bangladesh to hold free and fair elections emboldened both China and Russia, giving them pretexts to accuse the US of meddling in Bangladesh's domestic affairs.

That pressure also upset India, a key US partner that is closely aligned with Bangladesh's ruling party. The previous US approach effectively gave Beijing and Moscow an advantage in Dhaka and rankled New Delhi, he said.​

 

[Saif]

‘Vendetta against Yunus will impact US-BD partnership’

Breaking News, International News & Multimedia

thedailynewnation.com

‘Vendetta against Yunus will impact US-BD partnership’​

15 Mar 2024, 12:00 am0

Staff Reporter :

US Senator Dick Durbin, a prominent figure in the US Senate, expressed concerns about the potential negative impact on the United States-Bangladesh partnership due to the ongoing vendetta against Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus. Senator Durbin took to his official Twitter handle after a discussion with Bangladesh Ambassador to the US, Mohammad Imran, to share his views.

“The US values its relationship with Bangladesh, and I appreciate its help to Rohingya refugees. But a failure to end the vendetta against Muhammad Yunus will negatively impact that partnership,” he stated in his tweet.

During the meeting, Senator Durbin directly addressed the government of Bangladesh, urging them to cease the harassment targeting the Nobel Laureate. “In my meeting with Ambassador Imran, I called for an end to the harassment of Prof. Yunus,” he emphasised.

Earlier in January twelve US Senators including Dick Durbin in a letter urged Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to halt a continuous harassment of Dr Yunus.

In the letter, they expressed concern about the misuse of law and judicial system against critics of the government in Bangladesh. The letter was published on Senator Dick Durbin’s website.

Earlier, just after the 12th National Parliamentary Election in Bangladesh, ‘even though several million people participated peacefully, the election and the pre-election process were marred by violence and intimidation from opposition parties,’ said the four American senators, one of whom was Dick Durbin.

The trial of Dr Yunus has been highly critical by the west including the United Nations.

The UN has directly said that they have been closely monitoring the case of Dr Yunus, a dear friend of the United Nations.

Meanwhile, the United States has also been talking about the Yunus issue and urged the government not to harass the economist.

Even on March 11, US State Department Spokesperson Mathew Miller said that the US government has expressed concerns surrounding the cases against Dr Yunus.

“The U.S. Government’s concerns surrounding the cases against Muhammad Yunus, including that they could represent a potential misuse of Bangladesh’s laws to harass and intimidate Dr Yunus,” he said.

Even on several occasions the United Nations said that the UN is closely following the case of Dr Yunus, who is a dear friend of the UN throughout his career.​

 

[Saif]

What’s next for US policy in Bangladesh?

South Asia Institute Director Michael Kugelman offers his insights

www.thedailystar.net

What’s next for US policy in Bangladesh?​

South Asia Institute Director Michael Kugelman offers his insights

VISUAL: TEENI AND TUNI

When the US State Department declared, on January 8, that Bangladesh's elections the day before "were not free or fair," it was indirectly acknowledging a major policy setback.

For many months, the Biden administration used Bangladesh as a test case for its values-based foreign policy. It advocated tirelessly for greater respect for human rights, for democratic principles, and especially for free and fair elections. It deployed various tactics—relentless public messaging, meetings with political party leaders, written appeals for different political parties to work out differences, and sanctions and visa restrictions.

It's unclear why the administration chose to pursue its democracy agenda so robustly in Bangladesh (and it should be noted that this agenda was also pursued, albeit less emphatically, during the Trump administration). One reason may have been a strong expectation of success: unlike some other countries where the US has sought to promote democracy, Bangladesh does have a legacy of democratic institutions and achievements—meaning it shouldn't be as heavy a lift to advocate for something with a precedent. US officials have also been heartened by the reductions in RAB abuses since Washington sanctioned it in 2021.

But the State Department's assessment concedes its policy fell short. So why, despite all its efforts, was the election—in Washington's own view—marred by violence, crackdowns on the opposition, and irregularities?

Some would point to the limits of US leverage in foreign policy. Others would argue that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will never respond to pressure from a country against whom she has long harboured grudges, or that she wouldn't want to create the conditions for a possible BNP return to power, because of the retributive policies against her and other AL leaders that would surely follow. Still others would contend the US didn't go far enough, that it didn't sufficiently raise the costs for Dhaka—such as by imposing trade sanctions, which would have hit Bangladesh hard given its current economic struggles and deep dependence on the US as an export market.

The question now is what next for US policy? Will Washington deploy harsher tactics that it believes may better incentivise Bangladesh's government and broader political class to slam the brakes on a slide toward authoritarianism? Or will the US dial it down, and take a softer approach to democracy promotion? Alternately, will it jettison its values-based approach altogether and replace it with an interests-based lens? Or will it try for a middle ground that balances both approaches?

Washington's next moves will be shaped by two key considerations: Its assessment of the degree to which the AL hindered free and fair elections, and its future goals for its relationship with Bangladesh.

The administration will examine the extent of AL-perpetrated irregularities and election-related violence. How it evaluates the BNP boycott will also be critical. Will Washington put more weight on the boycott itself (which would emphasise the BNP's stubborn refusal to participate in an election not overseen by a neutral government), or on the broader factors that drove the boycott (especially the non-level playing field generated by the AL's relentless crackdowns on the BNP)? If more weight is given to the latter, there are higher chances of muscular US policy responses. The State Department has laid out additional signposts, calling on Dhaka "to credibly investigate reports of violence and hold perpetrators accountable. We also urge all political parties to reject violence." Washington will be watching on these fronts, too.

However, even if the administration renders the harshest possible judgement on AL complicity in an unfree and unfair election, that doesn't guarantee harsh US responses. And this gets to the matter of Washington's objectives for the broader US-Bangladesh relationship.

Amid all the attention on bilateral tensions over democracy and elections, it's easy to forget that US-Bangladesh relations have actually strengthened considerably in recent years. The US is the top destination for Bangladesh exports, and the biggest source of FDI in Bangladesh. In 2020, the two sides announced a new vision for boosting economic cooperation in areas ranging from tech collaborations and air travel to blue economy initiatives and energy security.

Commercial cooperation has been further energised by the launching of the US-Bangladesh Business Council, part of the US Chamber of Commerce, in 2021.

Additionally, over the last decade or so, US officials have started to invest in Bangladesh with more strategic significance. The origins of this shift may lie in the scholarship of influential American foreign policy analysts, most prominent among them Robert Kaplan, which highlights the importance of the Indian Ocean Region for US interests. In recent years, going back to the Trump era, Bangladesh has been emphasised in multiple Indo-Pacific strategy documents published by the Pentagon and State Department, with emphasis on potential for cooperation on counterterrorism, counter piracy, counternarcotics, and maritime issues.

Intensifying great power competition has made Bangladesh's strategic significance come into even sharper relief in Washington. Consider China's deepening influence in the Indian Ocean Region: Its military base in Djibouti, its ships' presence from the Bay of Bengal to the Andaman Sea, and of course its deepening ties with Dhaka and backing for Bangladesh's first submarine base. Meanwhile, witness Russia's intensifying engagement with Dhaka. Unsurprisingly, US officials now call Bangladesh a strategic partner.

Consequently, US-Bangladesh relations have been busy in recent years: High-level diplomatic engagements, military exercises, business leader delegation visits, and extensive US humanitarian assistance—from support for Rohingya refugees to pandemic assistance. Washington is the top supplier of humanitarian aid for the Rohingya crisis, and it has provided more COVID-19 vaccines to Bangladesh than to any other country.

Given this expanding partnership, Washington will want to avoid leaning too heavily on the tensions-prone values-based aspect of bilateral ties—because that risks damaging the relationship. It will likely look to balance the values- and interests-based dimensions of its relations with Dhaka.

But that will be a delicate balance.

Washington needs diplomatic space with Dhaka to try to push back against Chinese and Russian influence in Bangladesh. But that space shrinks if Bangladesh is pushed into a corner with tough trade sanctions. Previous punitive US tactics—visa restrictions, RAB sanctions, suspensions of GSP benefits—weren't as harmful to bilateral ties because those measures weren't as damaging for Bangladesh on the whole.

On the other hand, Bangladesh's democratic backsliding constrains efforts to expand cooperation. Dhaka's crackdowns on Internet freedom may deter prospective US tech investors. Bangladesh's poor labour rights record precludes the International Development Finance Corporation—Washington's main investment arm in the Indo-Pacific—from sponsoring infrastructure projects. And if Bangladesh's security forces ramp up abuses, America's Leahy law—which bans US assistance to foreign militaries implicated in serious human rights violations—could kick in, jeopardising deeper military cooperation.

In the coming weeks, expect a reoriented US focus away from elections and more toward promoting rights and democracy in Bangladesh more broadly—though more visa restrictions are possible for those that hindered free and fair polls. Meanwhile, the administration, impelled by commercial and strategic interests, will continue to push for deeper partnership.

Bangladesh will remain a test case for Washington's values-based foreign policy. But so long as it keeps bumping up against the relationship's strategic imperatives, the experiment could grow increasingly untenable in a world order where realpolitik so often prevails.

---

Michael Kugelman is director of the South Asia Institute at the Wilson Center in Washington, DC.​

 

[Saif]

The Great Game will continue

The absence of democratic behaviour is no longer hidden under the carpet.

www.thedailystar.net

The Great Game will continue​

The pressing questions after the January 7 election are how the result and the electoral process will be considered by the international community and what impact it will have, if any, on the relationship with Bangladesh's external partners, especially the West. These questions have become important because of the series of events leading up to polling day and the low voter turnout.

The series of events since October 28 sent out the message that the ruling party had planned the election to ensure a victory. The absence of democratic behaviour is no longer hidden under the carpet. The persecution of leaders and activists of the opposition parties, especially the BNP, drew international attention and criticism. It was matched with other kinds of intrigue and machinations, such as fielding "dummy" candidates and using state apparatuses to ensure victory of the preferred candidates.

It was highlighted before the polling day that the goal of the incumbent Awami League was to draw a large number of voters to the polling stations. The party hoped that its supporters and supporters of the "independent" candidates would make up more than 50 percent of the voters. But January 7 showed how voters shied away from the polling booths. Then came events casting serious doubts about the turnout data. The Election Commission (EC) said around midday that the turnout was 18.5 percent, and around 3pm it was around 26 percent. But an hour later, as the polls closed, the official estimate was claimed to be 40 percent. That, too, was announced in a bizarre way. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal, in a press briefing, said the turnout was about 28 percent, only to retract at the prodding of his colleagues and offered a new, higher number. However these numbers are presented in the future, their veracity will continue to dog the EC. Considering that the election was essentially uncontested, there was never any doubt about the victory of Sheikh Hasina and the AL, but the entire process has added further questions to her victory and the strength of her mandate.

As for the reactions of the international community, there was the predictable part—those who had already supported the incumbent have already sent congratulatory messages. These are India, China and Russia, along with a few other nations. The "unknown unknown" part of the equation was the reactions of Western nations. These countries insisted on a free, fair and inclusive election, but have remained remarkably silent since October 28. The US reaction, expectedly, stated that the January 7 election was not free or fair. In a similar fashion, the UK said that the standards of credible and fair competitions were not consistently met during the 12th parliamentary election. The West will continue to consider not only the stray incidents of ballot stuffing and violence on January 7, but also how the entire process unfolded contrary to its efforts.


The US faces a dilemma: whether to reassess its relationship with Bangladesh and act robustly, or sidestep for a foreseeable picture. A robust action will demonstrate that it is returning to its divergence with India. Will Western countries go about a business-as-usual engagement with the "new" government? Notwithstanding the political aspect of it—an abandonment of its policy of democracy and human rights promotion—there is an institutional aspect to it too. For a long time, there have been security-related cooperation between the two countries, but leading to the election, evidently some of these institutions' integrity have been eroded as these have been blatantly used as political tools. If the US and the West adopt direct or indirect measures, there will be serious adverse impacts on Bangladesh's economy.

The predictable reactions of the trio—India, China and Russia—do not mean that the relationship between Bangladesh and these countries will continue as before. A contest between these nations, especially between China and India, will intensify to expand their sphere of influence. That will not be a matter of the distant future, but within a short period of time. Due to the ongoing economic crisis, Bangladesh will need to rely more on external support. This will bring Bangladesh and China closer, but how much closeness is acceptable for India is the question for the coming days. As such, whether the Western countries "act" or not, the country will continue to be the theatre of the Great Game.​

---

Ali Riaz is distinguished professor of political science at Illinois State University in the US.​

 

[Saif]

Bangladesh a truly important strategic partner

US Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, Afreen Akhter, has said the US sees Bangladesh as a "truly important strategic partner" and looks forward to working over the next 50 years for a stronger relationship.

www.thedailystar.net

Bangladesh a truly important strategic partner​

Says US Deputy Assistant Secretary Afreen Akhter

US Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, Afreen Akhter, has said the US sees Bangladesh as a "truly important strategic partner" and looks forward to working over the next 50 years for a stronger relationship.

She said in the last 50 years Bangladesh-US relations have seen incredible progress between the peoples, economies and governments.

The people-to-people ties between the two countries are very deep, she said.

Praising Bangladesh's progress in different sectors, Akhter said Bangladesh's economy has expanded from largely agriculture society to economic powerhouse over the just few decades.

This is a story to really be proud of that Bangladesh has lifted millions of people out of poverty and the country will achieve the middle-income status within generations, which is truly remarkable, she said while speaking at a Victory Day function in Washington.

Beyond the economic cooperation, Afreen mentioned the close partnership between the two countries in providing Covid-19 vaccines and addressing climate change issue. She thanked the Bangladesh government for hosting some 1.1 million Rohingya from Myanmar.

The Bangladesh Embassy in Washington DC celebrated the 52nd Victory Day of Bangladesh, remembering the valiant freedom fighters who fought and made the supreme sacrifice for the cause of long-aspired independence.

To commemorate the day, the embassy arranged a daylong programme.

The day's first part of the programme began with the hoisting of the national flag ceremonially on the chancery premises in the morning by Bangladesh Ambassador to the US Muhammad Imran.

Officials and employees of the embassy were present at that time.

Later, the ambassador along with officials and employees of the embassy placed a wreath at the bust of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at the Bangabandhu Corner of the embassy.​

 

[Deleted due to Error (Muji Iqbal)]

In the China vs. USA competition, I believe China is more trustworthy partner.

But Bangladesh should milk out what it can from USA.

 

[Vikings]

Poor BNP! Do they still not understand that , nobody beats a dead horse?

 

[Old School]

Poor BNP! Do they still not understand that , nobody beats a dead horse?

They understand it, but they also have to keep the hope of their supporters alive. I know one of their prime propagandists here in America - Mushfiqe Ansari. He attends the State Department in DC for the Q&A sessions every occasion and returns with his fictitious stories. Then you have another fraudster, Jacob Milton, who recently joined Mushfique Ansari in the Q&A session. This is how their BNP leaders collect donations from their donors, saying that money is necessary for lobbying. They will be rewarded in their afterlife when the BNP goes to power.
It is unusual because their leader, Tareq Rehman, lives in the UK like all our Pakistani leaders. They were supposed to lobby from the UK. Some say Professor Yunus has purchased BNP, which is how the US lobby got involved.

 

[Saif]

In the China vs. USA competition, I believe China is more trustworthy partner.

But Bangladesh should milk out what it can from USA.

You are right, brother. China is a friend of Weak and poor. The USA is treacherous.

 

[Deleted due to Error (Muji Iqbal)]

You are right, brother. China is a friend of Weak and poor. The USA is treacherous.

Exactly, after the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, who would trust USA?

 

[Saif]

Indian President Murmu greets Bangladesh on Independence Day

Indian President Droupadi Murmu has greeted her Bangladeshi counterpart Mohammed Shahabuddin on Independence Day. In a letter addressed to Shahabuddin, Murmu conveyed the ‘warmest’ greetings to the people of Bangladesh on behalf of the Indian people and government, the Indian High Comm

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

US proud to partner with Bangladesh on most pressing issues: Blinken​

BDNEWS24.COM

Published :​

Mar 26, 2024 23:48

Updated :​

Mar 26, 2024 23:48

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has congratulated Bangladeshis on 53 years of the South Asian country’s independence from Pakistan.

“The United States is proud to partner with Bangladesh on many of today’s most pressing issues, including combating climate change, advancing economic development, responding to the Rohingya refugee crisis, supporting peacekeeping operations worldwide, and addressing global health challenges,” he said in a statement on Independence Day on Tuesday.

He said the US-Bangladesh partnership plays an “important role in ensuring a free, open, secure, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region”.

“As Bangladesh celebrates another year of independence, we reaffirm our commitment to strengthening democratic governance and protecting human rights – efforts which will increase Bangladesh’s prosperity,” Blinken said.

“I extend warm wishes to all Bangladeshis on this special day and look forward to enhancing the partnership and people-to-people ties between our two countries in the year ahead.”​

 

[Vikings]

They understand it, but they also have to keep the hope of their supporters alive. I know one of their prime propagandists here in America - Mushfiqe Ansari. He attends the State Department in DC for the Q&A sessions every occasion and returns with his fictitious stories. Then you have another fraudster, Jacob Milton, who recently joined Mushfique Ansari in the Q&A session. This is how their BNP leaders collect donations from their donors, saying that money is necessary for lobbying. They will be rewarded in their afterlife when the BNP goes to power.
It is unusual because their leader, Tareq Rehman, lives in the UK like all our Pakistani leaders. They were supposed to lobby from the UK. Some say Professor Yunus has purchased BNP, which is how the US lobby got involved.

@Old School bhai, not sure about Jacob Milton as I never watched any of his full talk show! However Mushfiqe Fazal ansari was good at deceiving people! You see other activists are still kicking Hasina out everyday as usual! Although the method has been started before 2018 election! No idea who is actually anti Hasina or Hasina's mole!

However if Dr younus really bought BNP, then do you think BNP has any future? Bangladesh is actually a country with tribal mentality, so it's hard to believe that BNP supporters will ever accept any leader outside zia family? What's your take on it? Please share!

Ps - However if he is giving Tareq Rahaman some monthly donation then maybe purchasing BNP is fruitful!

 

[Old School]

@Old School bhai, not sure about Jacob Milton as I never watched any of his full talk show! However Mushfiqe Fazal ansari was good at deceiving people! You see other activists are still kicking Hasina out everyday as usual! Although the method has been started before 2018 election! No idea who is actually anti Hasina or Hasina's mole!

However if Dr younus really bought BNP, then do you think BNP has any future? Bangladesh is actually a country with tribal mentality, so it's hard to believe that BNP supporters will ever accept any leader outside zia family? What's your take on it? Please share!

Ps - However if he is giving Tareq Rahaman some monthly donation then maybe purchasing BNP is fruitful!

Bangladeshi deep state may approve a BNP which is not led by Zia family. Popular votes are not relevant there any more. Deep state counts the votes and that only matters.

 

[Vikings]

Bangladeshi deep state may approve a BNP which is not led by Zia family. Popular votes are not relevant there any more. Deep state counts the votes and that only matters.

I don't care if deep state is good or bad , but I seriously feel that Bangladeshi are emotional branch with almost no practical knowledge!

Hence there should be a deep state ; I only wish if there is Indian moles inside it , they will be neutralized once!

And as front face ,BAL is becoming boring day by day! A change is necessary! However Tareq shouldn't be the leader of a major party in Bangladesh.

I don't consider him to be a worthy mayor of his own city , let alone the PM of Bangladesh!

Khaleda Zia was also stupid leader and couldn't take her own decision! So whoever lead BNP other than any family member of Mr Ziaur Rahman ( whom I greatly admire you know) , I'm fine with it!

I'm already fed up to see BAL people spewing nonsense regularly!

Other nonsense from BNP or other party should take the place!

However I wish a French model will be introduced, hence we can get some really educated and sophisticated people ( instead of pseudo educated idol worshippers ( idol of Mujib and Zia ) idiots from both parties) to become a president!

I'm still optimistic!

 

[Old School]

I don't care if deep state is good or bad , but I seriously feel that Bangladeshi are emotional branch with almost no practical knowledge!

Hence there should be a deep state ; I only wish it there is Indian moles inside it , they will be neutralized once!

And as front face ,BAL is becoming boring day by day! A change is necessary! However Tareq shouldn't be the leader of a major party in Bangladesh.

I don't consider him to be a mayor of his own city , let alone the PM of Bangladesh!

Khaleda Zia was also stupid leader and couldn't take her own decision! So whoever lead BNP other than any family member of Mr Ziaur Rahman ( whom I greatly admire you know) , I'm fine with it!

I'm already fed up to see BAL people spewing nonsense regularly!

Other nonsense from BNP or other party should take the place!

However I wish a French model will be introduced, hence we can get some really educated and sophisticated people ( instead of pseudo educated idol worshippers ( idol of Mujib and Zia ) idiots from both parties) to become a president!

I'm still optimistic!

Most former colonies like Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh need a mature and robust deep state because the population is mainly immature, emotional, and politically literate, and this population is unlikely to change anytime soon. Western-style mature and politically literate democracy is untenable in these countries, whatever our unrealistic wishful thinking otherwise suggests. The reality is that Western-style democracy will never be realized in these countries. The prevailing culture will not support it either. Support for the Military or strong rule is even appealing among Indians. According to a new survey, 85 percent of Indians support rule by a strong leader or military, says Pew survey Data—The Hindu.

 

[Vikings]

Most former colonies like Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh need a mature and robust deep state because the population is mainly immature, emotional, and politically literate, and this population is unlikely to change anytime soon. Western-style mature and politically literate democracy is untenable in these countries, whatever our unrealistic wishful thinking otherwise suggests. The reality is that Western-style democracy will never be realized in these countries. The prevailing culture will not support it either. Support for the Military or strong rule is even appealing among Indians. According to a new survey, 85 percent of Indians support rule by a strong leader or military, says Pew survey Data—The Hindu.

Exactly my words @Old School bhai , no disagreement!

 

[Vikings]

.

You are right, brother. China is a friend of Weak and poor. The USA is treacherous.

You are idolising which isn't good! You should know that our Queen is still in power because of Chinese support!

So how come China is a friend of weak and poor?

if China is friend of someone , it's because of their own interest.

Same goes for the usa! There is really no free lunch in this world

 

[Saif]

You are idolising which isn't good! You should know that our Queen is still in power because of Chinese support!

Our queen is still in power because of Indian influence not China.

 

[Vikings]

Our queen is still in power because of Indian influence not China.

India alone can't control the fate of any government in this region. They aren't that strong that many of us think.

Who was behind 1/11? Surely it's west and it's foot soldier India right?

So when from 2018 and specially before 2024 election USA was desperate to kick out Hasina, still do you think it's India who has the power to go against both USA and China? I don't think so!

Also do you remember BNP's trade agreement with Taiwan in 2004?

And later it was closed by BAL regime in 30 June 2009?

Do you still believe that China is pleased with BNP?

 

[Old School]

India alone can't control the fate of any government in this region. They aren't that strong that many of us think.

Who was behind 1/11? Surely it's west and it's foot soldier India right?

So when from 2018 and specially before 2024 election USA was desperate to kick out Hasina, still do you think it's India to has the power to go against both USA and China? I don't think so!

Also do you remember BNP's trade agreement with Taiwan in 2004?

And later it was closed by BAL regime in 30 June 2009?

Do you still believe that China is pleased with BNP?

There are thousands of pieces of evidence of Chinese bankrolling behind the BAL government, which money India can only dream of. India takes money from BD, while China provides money.
THE ONLY PEOPLE DENY THIS FACT ARE THE LEFTIST ( FORMER NAP, JSD, CPB) FACTIONS OF BNP. They are the master of propaganda by leftist design. It is highly unlikely that the Chinese will be fooled by the India out campaign by the BNP and reset their relationship. Who do you think was responsible for the seizure of 14 truck arms cache in Chittagong in 2004 in the same year when Tareq, along with Amir Khasru Chowdhury, opened up a Taiwanese visa office in Dacca and BD visa office in Taipei under cover of the cultural section?
Seeing sane Bengali people like you who can read between the lines is excellent.

 

[Vikings]

There are thousands of pieces of evidence of Chinese bankrolling behind the BAL government, which money India can only dream of. India takes money from BD, while China provides money.
THE ONLY PEOPLE DENY THIS FACT ARE THE LEFTIST ( FORMER NAP, JSD, CPB) FACTIONS OF BNP. They are the master of propaganda by leftist design. It is highly unlikely that the Chinese will be fooled by the India out campaign by the BNP and reset their relationship. Who do you think was responsible for the seizure of 14 truck arms cache in Chittagong in 2004 in the same year when Tareq, along with Amir Khasru Chowdhury, opened up a Taiwanese visa office in Dacca and BD visa office in Taipei under cover of the cultural section?
Seeing sane Bengali people like you who can read between the lines is excellent.

Very well said @Old School bhai! Actually putting blame on India for everything is actually making them look powerful, that actually ceate panic among common Bangladeshi people; some people do it intentionally, others do it unknowingly! So it's also could be their propaganda to create mess among Bangladeshi people! They ( raw ) are ruling us ( our mind) through fear!

Also people must not blindly believe things that they see with bare eyes! Appearecne is always ( most of time) deceiving , we have to use our brain in order to understand things correctly!

People say that Hasina bought armed forces , she is responsible for all wrong doing , never even mistakenly thing that Hasina ( or other parties sometimes) is just front face , she can be taken down overnight if armed forces withdraw their support!

 

[Vikings]

@Saif , you can read this article from Global Times! And surely you know that Global Times is actually voice of Chinese government! I hope now you will understand who is behind Hasina!

Hasina's reelection shows Bangladesh's determination to rid US interference

On January 7, the 12th National Parliament elections in Bangladesh came to a peaceful end. As expected, the Awami League, led by the incumbent Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, achieved an overwhelming victory. This will give Prime Minister Hasina a fourth straight term. The victory was achieved despite continuous pressure and criticism from the West. This victory not only reflects Prime Minister Hasina's determination as an experienced politician who is not afraid of external forces, but also her insistence on her chosen political direction and development path. It also reflects the strong desire of many countries in the Global South, represented by Bangladesh, to seek political stability, economic growth and social development in their own countries while avoiding involvement in the geopolitical competition provoked by the West.

Read the full article from source!

Hasina’s reelection shows Bangladesh’s determination to rid US interference - Global Times

www.globaltimes.cn

 

[Saif]

@Saif , you can read this article from Global Times! And surely you know that Global Times is actually voice of Chinese government! I hope now you will understand who is behind Hasina!

Hasina's reelection shows Bangladesh's determination to rid US interference

On January 7, the 12th National Parliament elections in Bangladesh came to a peaceful end. As expected, the Awami League, led by the incumbent Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, achieved an overwhelming victory. This will give Prime Minister Hasina a fourth straight term. The victory was achieved despite continuous pressure and criticism from the West. This victory not only reflects Prime Minister Hasina's determination as an experienced politician who is not afraid of external forces, but also her insistence on her chosen political direction and development path. It also reflects the strong desire of many countries in the Global South, represented by Bangladesh, to seek political stability, economic growth and social development in their own countries while avoiding involvement in the geopolitical competition provoked by the West.

Read the full article from source!

Hasina’s reelection shows Bangladesh’s determination to rid US interference - Global Times

www.globaltimes.cn

Please visit the following thread to know who is behind Awami League.

🇧🇩 - The Nexus Between Awami League and India

I am opening this thread to expose India's nefarious plan to keep Bangladesh into its sphere of influence by aiding Awami League to suppress the opposition to perpetuate its reign in Bangladesh.

www.defensepk.com

 

[Saif]

US denies ‘Peter Haas’ hiding’ during Bangladesh election

The US Department of State spokesperson, Matthew Miller, has denied an accusation reportedly made by a former Indian ambassador to Bangladesh that the US ambassador in Dhaka, Peter Haas, was in hiding just before Bangladesh’s immediate past general election due to alleged Indian pressure....

www.newagebd.net

US denies 'Peter Haas' hiding' during Bangladesh election
Staff Correspondent | Published: 14:08, Apr 09,2024 | Updated: 14:24, Apr 09,2024

US Department of State spokesperson Matthew Miller. -- Collected photo.

The US Department of State spokesperson, Matthew Miller, has denied an accusation reportedly made by a former Indian ambassador to Bangladesh that the US ambassador in Dhaka, Peter Haas, was in hiding just before Bangladesh's immediate past general election due to alleged Indian pressure.

The State Department spokesperson made the denial in response to a question at the department's regular press briefing in the US on Monday.

The text of the press briefing was uploaded to the State Department's official website.

The questioner asked, 'Is that true that U.S. ambassador in Dhaka, Peter Haas, was in hiding just before Bangladesh one-sided election due to alleged Indian pressure? The accusation was reportedly made by a senior Indian diplomat and former ambassador to Bangladesh during a book launching ceremony in New Delhi.'

'So I haven't been following every book launch ceremony in New Delhi, but no, that is not accurate,' responded the State Department spokesperson.

The accusation was reportedly made by former Indian ambassador to Bangladesh, Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty, in a book launching ceremony organised by the Observer Research Foundation in New Delhi. The book was written by the senior Indian diplomat.​

 

[Saif]

US support sought to build Smart Bangladesh

ERD secretary sits with US delegation on the sidelines of the ADB annual meeting

www.thedailystar.net

US support sought to build Smart Bangladesh
ERD secretary sits with US delegation on the sidelines of the ADB annual meeting

The government has sought US support to implement the long-term economic vision of building a 'Smart Bangladesh' by 2041.

Shahriar Kader Siddiky, secretary of the Economic Relations Division (ERD) and alternate governor of Bangladesh to ADB, made the call in a meeting with a US delegation on the sidelines of the ADB Annual Meeting 2024 at Tbilisi in Georgia.

Alexia Latortue, assistant secretary for International Trade and Development of US Treasury, led the US delegation.

In the meeting, both the countries discussed climate cooperation and exchanged views on the reforms Bangladesh is currently undertaking for consolidating financial and fiscal discipline.

Stressing the need for climate finance, the ERD secretary said a huge investment would be required for Bangladesh's climate transition.

Meanwhile, Finance Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali joined an event on "Financing the Clean Energy Transition in South Asia" on the second day of the ADB Annual Meeting as a panellist and presented Bangladesh's vision for clean and green energy transition.

Ali also focused on building greater trust and confidence among South Asian countries to leverage their additional capacities in hydro, solar and other non-fossil fuel sources for meeting region's growing energy needs in a sustainable manner.

The minister emphasised on creating environment for domestic and foreign investors to bring finances in bankable energy projects and also sought ADB's support to this end.​

 

[Saif]

We do not have any conflict with the US: Quader

Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on Sunday said Awami League does not have any conflict with the US. “But if telling the truth hurts their interests, then nothing can be done,” he said. Quader was speaking at a press conference orga

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

We do not have any conflict with the US: Quader
UNB
Published :
May 05, 2024 19:09
Updated :
May 05, 2024 19:35

Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on Sunday said Awami League does not have any conflict with the US.

"But if telling the truth hurts their interests, then nothing can be done," he said.

Quader was speaking at a press conference organised at the political office of Awami League President Sheikh Hasina in the capital's Dhanmondi area.

During the Vietnam War, various universities, including Columbia University in the United States faced hurdles as they raised voices against the war, Quader mentioned, adding that such types of repression are still going on. "At least 2500 people were arrested due to the protest."

"Why has the question of friendship with the United States been raised for telling the truth?" he said.

He said: "They talk about the human rights of our country. Can't we talk about the human rights situation of their country? Why don't they see human rights in their own country, like Bangladesh? We did not mention that we do not have a friendship with them."

He said when the opposition party in our country committed arson terrorism, attacked the police, set fire to the police hospital, vandalised the residence of the Chief Justice, and attacked journalists, the United States remains silent

US President Joe Biden said his country is not authoritarian. But the definition of authoritarianism in the current US scenario is something different, he questioned.

Regarding foreign pressure, Quder said the pressure is there, but it is global economic pressure. Like many other countries across the world, Bangladesh is also facing hurdles due to the Russia-Ukraine war, he added

"Bangladesh is not free from the influence of the war. Import-export, energy, and dollar crisis are related to the economy. Consequently, we are under pressure," Quader said.

About Upazila polls, the AL leader said Awami League did not allot the party's electoral symbol to candidates in order to make the elections more participatory and competitive.

"This does not mean that other parties cannot allocate symbols for elections, if they want, they can choose their party symbol " he added.

Among others, AL Organising Secretaries Abu Sayeed Al Mahmood Swapon, Mirza Azam and SM Kamal Hossain, were also present at the press conference.​

 

[Saif]

Reforms needed to attract more US investment: Peter Haas

US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas yesterday stressed stabilising the local macro-economic situation and going for policy reforms to create a comfortable, competitive and business-friendly environment for attracting US investment.

www.thedailystar.net

Reforms needed to attract more US investment: Peter Haas

US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas yesterday stressed stabilising the local macro-economic situation and going for policy reforms to create a comfortable, competitive and business-friendly environment for attracting US investment.

"Bangladesh's success story attracts investment, but the country needs regulatory improvements to create a truly competitive business environment," he said.

Haas made this comment while addressing the opening session of the three-day "29th US Trade Show", organised by the American Chamber of Commerce in Bangladesh (AmCham) at the InterContinental Dhaka yesterday.

Haas added that positive developments in Bangladesh were already underway.

US companies that are already working in Bangladesh recognise the potential of bilateral trade and providing high-quality products to the local consumers, he added.

According to Haas, the success of American energy companies in Bangladesh demonstrates the positive impact of US investment.

He also said the government's push to streamline business operations through the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) is a welcome step.

Citing how US investors have no shortage of investment destinations, Haas suggested that Bangladesh foster a business-friendly environment to grab their attention. In fact, the environment must be so welcoming that American investors can wake up in the morning and immediately decide where to invest, he said.

Haas informed that the US government and private sector are interested in working together to develop an investment-friendly atmosphere in Bangladesh.

Salman F Rahman, the Prime Minister's adviser on private industry and investment, acknowledged that there are areas that need to be worked on, including regulations, interest rates, and taxes.

Rahman believes digitalisation could be a potential solution for increasing tax collection and the tax-GDP ratio.

However, during the past two decades, Bangladesh has seen visible development of not only its economy, but also in its social index. So now the government is trying hard to create a competitive environment to draw investment, he said.

While expressing concerns about the ease of doing business, Rahman said BIDA is working on addressing the issue by providing all 130 investment services through its digital system.

He also pointed out that the central bank's decision regarding the crawling peg and market-based bank interest rate would help overcome the ongoing challenges.

Rahman said that if the local currencies of countries from which Bangladesh imports products can be used for bilateral trade, then the pressure on the country's US dollar reserves will decrease.

"Increasing the price of the dollar will have a great impact on imports, but remittance income and export-oriented industries will also benefit," he added.

Zunaid Ahmed Palak, the state minister for post, telecommunications and information technology, said the local information technology (IT) companies have built up amazing capacity over the last 15 years.

He said IT entrepreneurs can now proudly present their achievements, having created around 2 million jobs over the last 10 years.

According to him, just during the last decade, around $2 billion was invested in this sector.

"Now is the perfect time to invest in this sector as skilled manpower is available in Bangladesh," he said, adding that around 700 freelancers are contributing to American companies.

Palak claimed that US companies source around 60 percent of their outsourced workforce from Bangladesh.

AmCham President Syed Ershad Ahmed said the US is one of Bangladesh's most significant and flourishing business partners, with growing opportunities in various sectors.

According to statistics, the US is the largest single-country investor in Bangladesh.

According to Ahmed, since the inception of the US Trade Show in 1992, when bilateral trade was worth just a few million USD, the event has played a pivotal role in fostering trade, which now exceeds $10 billion.

"We are confident that this show will serve as a gateway for American businesses to tap into the fast-growing Bangladesh market across diverse sectors, including energy and power, agriculture, heavy industries, consumer goods, healthcare and medical equipment, and various services," Ahmed said.

At the event, a total of 44 exhibitors are showcasing more than 100 top-tier US products and services across 79 booths. The trade show will remain open from 10:00am to 8:00pm every day.

The entry fee is Tk 30 per visitor, but invitees and students can enter for free.​

 

[Saif]

https://thedailynewnation.com/lu-to-discuss-bd-us-co-op/

Lu to discuss BD-US co-op
11 May 2024, 12:00 am

Staff Reporter :

The State Department announced that Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu will be visiting Bangladesh to discuss U.S.-Bangladesh cooperation, including initiatives on climate change and enhancing economic ties.

According to the State Department's website, Lu's trip to India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh is scheduled for May 10—15.

The statement emphasized that Lu's visit aims to "strengthen bilateral cooperation with each country and demonstrate U.S. support for a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region." In Dhaka, Lu plans to meet with government officials, civil society leaders, and other stakeholders to discuss various cooperation topics.

Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud of Bangladesh earlier mentioned that Lu's visit would also include a trip to the Rohingya camps and cover other aspects of bilateral cooperation.

During a State Department press briefing, Spokesperson Mathew Miller addressed a recent incident where two Bangladeshi citizens were shot by the Indian Border Security Forces (BSF).

He stated, "We are aware of the reports about this incident. We understand that the Indian and Bangladeshi border security agencies are communicating with one another." Miller deferred further comment to the ongoing investigations by the respective countries.

The shooting incident coincided with the visit of Indian Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra to Dhaka for discussions on various bilateral issues, including an invitation to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to visit Delhi after India's Lok Sabha election.

Post-discussion, Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud relayed, "We have emphasized not to use lethal weapons. Mr. Kwatra informed us that India has instructed their border security force accordingly.

There is no lack of sincerity between the two countries at governmental and political levels regarding this."

In the same briefing, a journalist questioned the U.S. visa policy for Bangladeshis following alleged democratic irregularities in local elections. Miller responded, "I don't have any updates to announce.

We obviously made that policy public. At times we make designations under that policy public; at times we keep them private. I don't have anything to announce today."​

 

[Saif]

Donald Lu arrives today

Foreign minister Hasan Mahmud said that the issues relating to the United States’ visa policy for Bangladesh announced before the January 7 elections and...

www.newagebd.net

Donald Lu arrives today
Staff Correspondent 14 May, 2024, 00:38

Donald Lu

Foreign minister Hasan Mahmud said that the issues relating to the United States' visa policy for Bangladesh announced before the January 7 elections and Dhaka's call for withdrawal of restrictions on Rapid Action Battalion might come up during the visit of Donald Lu, the US assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asian affairs.

He, however, said Bangladesh had a very good relation with the US and the US president Joe Biden had conveyed in a message to prime minister Sheikh Hasina, on her assumption to office for the fourth consecutive term in January, to take the relation to a new height.

'As these issues left some marks on our relation, easing the US visa policy and withdrawal of their restrictions on RAB may naturally come up for discussion during the visit of Donald Lu,' the foreign minister told reporters at his Segunbagicha office on Monday.

He said that both sides would also discuss economic ties and ways to enhance the relation further.

Donald Lu is expected to arrive in Dhaka today as per the schedule announced by the US Department of State on May 9.

'Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu will travel to India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh May 10—15. His trip will strengthen bilateral cooperation with each country and demonstrate U.S. support for a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region,' said the US Department of State in a release.

Assistant secretary Lu will conclude his tri-nation trip in Dhaka, where he will meet with government officials, civil society leaders, and other Bangladeshis to discuss US-Bangladesh cooperation, including addressing the climate crisis and deepening economic ties, said the release.

US assistant secretary of state Donald Lu during his last visit to Bangladesh in January 2023 conveyed to the government that the US wanted the general elections in Bangladesh to be held in a free and fair manner while expressing its commitment to democracy.

In September, 2023, the US Department of State announced that it had started imposing visa restrictions on individuals involved in undermining the democratic election process in Bangladesh.

The announcement came at a time when the Election Commission of Bangladesh started making preparations for the January 7 election.

In December 2021, the US imposed sanctions against seven former and serving officials of the RAB and the force itself over allegations of rights abuse.

Dhaka on several occasions called upon the US authorities for the withdrawal of the sanctions.​

 

[Saif]

Sanctions on RAB, visa policy affected relations with the US: Foreign minister

Sanctions on RAB officials and US visa policy affecting relations discussed by Bangladesh Foreign Minister with upcoming US official visit

en.prothomalo.com

Sanctions on RAB, visa policy affected relations with the US: Foreign minister
Diplomatic CorrespondentDhaka
Published: 13 May 2024, 21: 50

Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud addresses an event

The US visa policy for the citizens of Bangladesh and sanctions on Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) officials have affected the relations between Dhaka and Washington, thinks foreign minister Hasan Mahmud.

He said the issues will be discussed during the visit of US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu.

The foreign minister on Monday made the remarks while responding to a question of a newsperson on the upcoming visit of Donald Lu in Bangladesh.

Asked about the thorny issues in the bilateral relations of the two countries, Hasan Mahmud, also joint general secretary of governing Bangladesh Awami League said relations between Bangladesh and the US are very sound. When Sheikh Hasina was elected Prime Minister for the fourth straight term, the US President wrote a letter to her expressing his interest to advance the relations to a new height. Dhaka will work together with whoever visits here from the US administration. There are economic relations and we have cooperation in many sectors.

Speaking about the sanctions on RAB officials and the visa policy, the foreign minister said, "We will discuss US Visa policy and sanctions on RAB officials. We have already discussed the matter of withdrawing or relaxing those when US White House and state department officials visited here earlier … so these issues will come up naturally (this time). Both the countries are working to advance the relations" he said.

The US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, Donald Lu, is scheduled to arrive on a two-day visit in Dhaka Tuesday.

On the second day of his visit, Lu will hold a bilateral meeting with foreign secretary Masud Bin Momen. Later, he will pay a courtesy call on foreign minister Hasan Mahmud, and prime minister's private industry and investment advisor Salman F Rahman.

Replying to a question on Rohingya repatriation, the foreign minister said Dhaka wants to begin Rohingya repatriation as Myanmar's internal conflict cannot be an excuse for delaying the repatriation process.

However, he said it is true that the current situation in Arakan creates a barrier to repatriation to some extent, but conflict is always there in Myanmar.

"We are always in engagement with Myanmar. We want to see the commencement of repatriation at least. I made the same urge to the Myanmar foreign minister at a meeting during his Uganda visit. The minister expressed his goodwill in this regard," he added.

When asked about key opposition BNP's politics over the call for boycotting Indian products, Hasan Mahmud said this call of the BNP has stumbled. The country that shares a border of several thousand kilometres with Bangladesh, our development is never possible without maintaining good relations with that country. It is also not possible either to maintain peace and stability.​

 

[Saif]

Donald Lu in city: Dhaka to focus on economy, trade

Dhaka’s priority will be trade and economy, while Washington’s will be security, especially advancing partnership under its Indo-Pacific Strategy, as US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Donald Lu holds meetings with the government high-ups today.

www.thedailystar.net

Donald Lu in city: Dhaka to focus on economy, trade

US Assistant Secretary Donald Lu. Photo: Reuters

Dhaka's priority will be trade and economy, while Washington's will be security, especially advancing partnership under its Indo-Pacific Strategy, as US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Donald Lu holds meetings with the government high-ups today.

According to diplomatic sources and analysts, Washington is focused on strengthening its relations with the Indo-Pacific nations keeping China in mind, though it says it does not target any specific country.

Following the visits to India and Sri Lanka since May 10, Lu arrived in Dhaka yesterday morning and held a meeting with civil society members where he discussed human rights, labour rights, environment, gender, and media freedom.

Last night, he also met Prime Minister's Adviser on Private Industry and Investment Salman F Rahman at his residence. Today, he will hold a meeting with Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen and call on Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud and Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury.

"His trip will strengthen bilateral cooperation with each country and demonstrate US support for a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region," according to a statement issued by the US State Department ahead of Lu's visit to India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh.

At a recent briefing in Dhaka, Maxwell Martin, political officer at the US embassy in Dhaka, said Washington wants to see Bangladesh as a net security provider, meaning that the country can support regional countries in terms of security as the country has the capacity.

"We would hope that Bangladesh sees the Indo-Pacific Strategy (IPS) as an opportunity to cooperate with us and our partners to help address some of Bangladesh's security concerns," he said.

Washington's push for democracy, human rights, and good governance is also part of the US-led IPS, Martin said, referring to last year's US public statements on free and fair elections.

The US last year announced a visa policy for Bangladesh, saying those undermining democratic elections would be denied US visas. Earlier in 2021, it imposed sanctions on Rab and some of its officials.

Nilanthi Samaranayake, a visiting expert at the US Institute of Peace (USIP) and adjunct fellow at the East-West Center in Washington, in an article on April 30 said while the US raised the temperature on Bangladesh regarding the conduct of its election process before January, it appears to now be focused on the way forward in the relationship.

"As a result, a discussion about Dhaka signing the ACSA and the GSOMIA is worth reengaging on ahead of annual partner dialogues between the two countries," she wrote.

Prof Obaidul Haque, of Dhaka University's international relations department, said Lu may press for signing the two agreements -- Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA) on logistics and the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) -- to advance security and defence relationship.

"I don't think that Dhaka will sign the agreements now. It has a certain level of reluctance about it," he told The Daily Star yesterday.

In an email interview, Samaranayake said Dhaka is likely taking its time to study the specifics of the agreements and understand its options.

"The US agreements are bilateral and do not prevent Bangladesh from having partnerships with other countries such as China. Bangladesh's foreign policy approach is seen as open to multiple partnerships."

Meanwhile, Dhaka would be seeking funding under the US International Finance Corporation (IFC) amid challenges of depleting foreign currency reserves. Bangladesh is already getting funding from the IMF.

Washington earlier told Dhaka that funding from the DFC is conditioned to the improvement of labour rights. Dhaka recently amended the labour law and is working on more reforms, said foreign ministry officials.

Besides, as a climate vulnerable country, Bangladesh needs huge funding from the developed countries. Bangladesh's annual funding requirement is of $9 billion for climate change initiatives, but the government allocates only $3 billion, resulting in a shortfall of $6 billion.

"We need funding as well as technologies. We would seek greater US contribution towards this. Also, the US has been the largest donor for Rohingyas, and we would seek their support for them," said a government official.

Bangladesh would also seek investments from the US, the single largest export market for Bangladesh.

Former ambassador M Humayun Kabir said Washington has great economic interests in Bangladesh, including in the oil and gas sectors.

US oil-gas company ExxonMobil has expressed interest in exploring oil and gas reserves in Bangladesh's offshore blocks.

"We need to decide everything from the view of our national interest," said Humayun.​

 

[Saif]

Bangladeshi fuchka is the best: Donald Lu

The US Embassy in Dhaka has shared a brief video appreciating the taste of Bangladeshi fuchka

www.thedailystar.net

Bangladeshi fuchka is the best: Donald Lu

Photo: Screengrab

The US Embassy in Dhaka has shared a brief video appreciating the taste of Bangladeshi fuchka.

Visiting US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu together with US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas were seen in the video.

"Bangladeshi fuchka is the best," they were heard saying while tasting fuchka together.

"East or West, Fuchka is the best! Guess what's cooking! We teamed up with celebrity chef Rahima Sultana to create a fusion of flavors with Fuchka and Jhalmuri! Are you ready for this epic culinary adventure? Enjoy the sneak peak and stay tuned for the full video!," read a message tagged with the tiny video.

Lu arrived here on Tuesday morning to "strengthen bilateral cooperation" and to demonstrate US support for a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.​

 

[Saif]

United States views Bangladesh through its own lens

Discover the latest insights on US-Bangladesh relations and the impact of Indian influence on US foreign policy in the region. Gain a comprehensive understanding of the perspectives of US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, Donald Lu, on key issues such as human rights...

en.prothomalo.com

Interview: Donald Lu
United States views Bangladesh through its own lens

There is a prevalent belief in Bangladesh that Washington views Dhaka's actions through the lens of Delhi's interests. A recent claim by a former Indian diplomat supports this notion, suggesting that the US refrained from exerting pressure on Bangladesh due to India's influence. What is your perspective?Tensions prevailed in US-Bangladesh relations last year centering the 7 January parliamentary election in Bangladesh this year. Th US now wants to look ahead rather than at the past. However, the US remains firm in its stance concerning democracy and human rights. The visiting US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, Donald Lu, made these comments during an interview Wednesday evening.

Raheed EjazDhaka
Published: 16 May 2024, 12: 10

US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, Donald Lu, during the interviewProthom Alo

Prothom Alo : Now that the election in Bangladesh is over, both countries are shifting focus towards enhancing ties and increasing engagement in various sectors such as trade, climate change and security. Has the US chosen to set aside governance and human rights issues as sources of bilateral tensions?

Donald Lu: We have some very difficult issues in our relationship. It is no secret that last year there was a lot of tension over the election issues. In addition, we are working on RAB sanctions together. We are talking about a whole range of human rights issues. We are taking about improvements in the business environment. These are complex things. Labour rights, for example. We are working on these issues together. We have made slow progress and it takes time.

What I have said to the government is, in addition of the difficult issues, let us also find some new areas f cooperation. Let's try to find a positive agenda because my belief is if we can do some positive things like increasing the number of students going back and forward between our countries, increasing investment in trade, finding ways to work on clean energy so that Bangladesh can improve its environment and fuel economic growth. If we can so these things, I think it will make the hard issues easier to solve.

Human Rights Watch said last year that RAB had dramatically reduced the number of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances. That's great. It's really good progress. Having said that, we still have concerns. We see that other branches of the law enforcement community are still committing some of these crimes

Prothom Alo : Could you provide an update on lifting sanctions on RAB since Bangladesh seems to be actively addressing the issue of extrajudicial killings? What is the US assessment?

Donald Lu: The sanctions against RAB remain in place. I was here a year ago and at that time we talked about the statement that the Human Rights Watch had made about RAB. Human Rights Watch said last year that RAB had dramatically reduced the number of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances. That's great. It's really good progress. Having said that, we still have concerns. We see that other branches of the law enforcement community are still committing some of these crimes. We also are waiting to see if there is going to be accountability for past crimes that RAB may have committed.
I know the government of Bangladesh is impatient about the process. We have a process in place. What strikes me is, last year it was noted that the numbers went down dramatically of killings and disappearances. To me that says that RAB can conduct its important charter as a mission and law enforcement mission without human rights abuses. And through that, I hope Bangladeshi people are also happy.

Prothom Alo : There have been complaints from various countries including Bangladesh regarding the human rights situation in the US. How does the US administration respond to such concerns, particularly in light of its own human rights reporting on other nations?

Donald Lu: Let me say as an American, we Americans should be humble. We have human rights problems in our country. And it is true, we point out human rights problems when we see them in Bangladesh and we expect Bangladesh, as a partner as ours, if they see problems, they should point it out to us. I have two children both in university now and I hear a lot of complaints from my kids about what's going in the United States.

Let me say from my perspective in government, we have had thousands of demonstrations in my country over the past weeks about the situation in Israel and Gaza. Almost all of those demonstrations have been peaceful and have been allowed to go on normally and we have respected freedom of assembly, freedom of speech. There are a few that have resulted in violence, vandalism and hate speech. As our president has said, there is no space for hate speech in America. In those cases police have been involved and in some cases people have been arrested. I know some Bangladeshis and some Americans have questioned whether the police have responded always to violence, or maybe they over-responded. In places where there are accusations of police over-response, there is an investigation. If police have acted with more force than necessary, people will be held accountable. That is what happens in a democracy and we appreciate that our Bangladeshi friends remind us of our obligations.

We want you to have positive relations with all the countries that you interact with, including China. But we also want you to have normal relations, relations not defined by coercion or pressure or unusual debt conditions.

Prothom Alo : The opposition BNP in Bangladesh claims that, influenced by Indian mediation the US has softened its stance on the 12th parliamentary election. What is your take on those claims made by BNP leaders?

Donald Lu: That is ridiculous. We are a big country. We pursue our interests around the world. Nobody tells the United States what to do, we don't tell Bangladesh what to do. This idea what we have acted in a way because other countries have told us, could not be further from the truth. We are very committed to supporting the will of Bangladeshi people to have free and fair elections, to have non-violent elections, and last year we took several steps to encourage that. We ended up sanctioning police, members of the opposition and members of the ruling party who were engaged in violence or oppression. We also spoke in favour of meaningful dialogue between BNP and Awami League. We spoke out in favour of freedom of speech and freedom of assembly. That is normal. We do that around this region and we will continue to uphold those values in Bangladesh.

Prothom Alo : There is a prevalent belief in Bangladesh that Washington views Dhaka's actions through the lens of Delhi's interests. A recent claim by a former Indian diplomat supports this notion, suggesting that the US refrained from exerting pressure on Bangladesh due to India's influence. What is your perspective?

David Lu: America views its interests in Bangladesh through the lens of America's interests. We don't look at it through the lens of China's interests or India's interests or Russia's interests. We have important interests here and we have direct discussions with our Bangladeshi frends and I think those are productive and useful discussions.

It is true that America and India are talking all the time. We are talking about things that happen in the region, in Sri Lanka, in Maldives, in Nepal and sometimes in Bangladesh. I would say that sometimes America influences Indian policy and sometimes India influences American policy. That's what we call diplomacy. We are doing that with countries all throughout this region. It is perfectly normal. But we look at our interests through American values and American priorities.

Prothom Alo : In recent years the influence of China is growing around the world, including South Asia. Recently the election of Maldives reflected such a phenomenon. After signing the deal for the Belt and Road Initiative BRI, China is now eager to sign the Global Development Initiative GDI and Global Security Initiative GSI with Bangladesh. How does the US assess growing Chinese influence in this region?

Donald Lu: We always tell our partners, we do not ask you to choose. We want you to have positive relations with all the countries that you interact with, including China. But we also want you to have normal relations, relations not defined by coercion or pressure or unusual debt conditions. Where we can see that people have good relations and normal relations with China, is when other countries compete.

I was US ambassador to the Kyrgyz Republic. Nobody was competing there. Only China was investing in the Kyrgyz Republic. They did some very bad projects, huge expensive projects that went nowhere and did not provide benefits to the Kyrgyz people. In Kazakhstan next door, western countries – Japan, South Korea, Australia, United States – all of us were competing. The number one investor in Kazakhstan is Holland, number two is the United States. China is number eight. And when China is number eight, China competes normally. It has normal loans. It has normal Kazakh people working in their companies, not bringing in Chinese labour. All I am trying to say is for China to be a good partner of Bangladesh, we need to offer competition for investment, for defence equipment, competition for ideas, for education. The United States would like to compete.

Prothom Alo : How does the US evaluate the situation in Rakhine, and Cox's Bazar, and the ongoing conflict between the Myanmar military and the resistance forces, particularly concerning the heightened risk of human trafficking, drug trafficking and terrorists, as well as the impact of this on Rohingya repatriation and regional security?

Donald Lu: I had the opportunity to travel to the Rohingya camp in Cox's Bazar last year and I was really moved by the experience. It's the largest refugee camp in the world. I am particularly moved by the generosity and compassion of the Bangladeshi people. You have welcomed a million people into your country. It is a burden for Bangladeshi people. We want to share that burden. The US is the largest single donor providing assistance to not only the refugees, but we also provide assistance to the Bangladeshi families who live near the refugees. We make a commitment to continue that assistance and to increase that assistance to make sure that all the people of this region –refugees as well as Bangladeshi families are able to live a normal, healthy and safe life.

We are a little concerned that other donors are not contributing enough money. So we talked to the foreign minister today and the foreign secretary about how we can work together – the Bangladesh government and the US, to try to go to other places around the world and ask them to contribute to this important effort.

I am worried. I can see the violence in the Rakhine state. I can see the terrible conditions that exist now in Myanmar. I believe it will be very difficult today for people to go back safely. The UN and all of us who are part of the UN family are trying very hard to create the conditions for the safe return of the refugees. Until then, we are asking Bangladesh to be patient, to continue to support this very vulnerable population.

We had a great discussion today about how we can improve the lives of refugees by providing some ability for them to make money to support themselves inside the camp, services for other refugees, or handicrafts or something to help them. We have also talked about the tents that they live in. How can we make them safer and more durable for the monsoon season. I see the commitment of the government, of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, to support these refugees. We are grateful to her and to the Bangladeshi people every day for what they do for the refugees.

Prothom Alo : Thank you.

Donald Lu: Thank you too.​

 

[Saif]

Donald Lu speaks of putting bitterness aside and taking relations ahead

US makes no secret of is discomfort over China’s steadily growing influence in the region. For quite some years now Bangladesh’s relations with China have strengthened. Presently, Bangladesh is in talks with China for a loan equivalent to USD 5 billion in Chinese currency. Under such...

en.prothomalo.com

Donald Lu speaks of putting bitterness aside and taking relations ahead

Raheed EjazDhaka
Published: 17 May 2024, 11: 30

US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, Donald LuProthom Alo

The United States had wanted to see free and fair elections in Bangladesh. They went as far as to take stern measures such as imposing visa restrictions to this end, stirring tensions and unease in relations between the two countries. On his recent visit to Bangladesh, the US Assistant Secretary of State for Central and South Asia, Donald Lu, unhesitatingly admitted this. However, putting aside the issue of whether the elections were fair or the human rights situation has improved, he made it clear that the US was interested in taking relations with Bangladesh ahead.

In this backdrop, it was seen that the US has adopted a softer stance towards Bangladesh. Diplomatic sources of the two countries say that this visit of Donald Lu has reflected that the US is focusing on advancing its relations with Bangladesh. It wants to put past bitterness aside and strengthen ties anew. Economy tops the list of US priorities in taking the relations ahead. Economic issues featured in Donald Lu's discussions with senior officials of the Bangladesh government as well as with representatives of the civil society.

Four months after the general election in Bangladesh, Donald Lu arrived in Dhaka in 7 May on a two-day visit. Earlier, before the election, he visited Bangladesh twice last year, in January and in July.

Evaluating this trip of Donald Lu, analysts of diplomatic affairs say that the US makes no secret of is discomfort over China's steadily growing influence in the region. For quite some years now Bangladesh's relations with China have strengthened. Presently, Bangladesh is in talks with China for a loan equivalent to USD 5 billion in Chinese currency. Under such circumstances, the US does not want differences with Bangladesh over democracy and good governance to grow further. Given the geopolitical and geo-economic circumstances, it does not feel that it is realistic to hold on to its previous stern stand. It wants to normalize relations and place importance on economic cooperation at the moment.

The issue of Bangladesh's economy came up repeatedly in Donald Lu's discussions this time, at various government and non-government levels. During talks with the civil society last Tuesday, he tried to understand the present economic situation of Bangladesh. After listening to the views of the civil society representatives, he highlighted he views of the US in this regard. He even drew on the example of Sri Lanka, saying that the US did not want Bangladesh to face any such predicament.

On the first day of his trip to Bangladesh, Donald Lu attended a dinner hosted by Salman F Rahman, the prime minister's advisor on private industry and investment. At the dinner he spoke about the shortfall in Bangladesh's foreign exchange reserves. He wanted to know why there was delay in releasing the funds of the US companies operating in Bangladesh. But he did not create any pressure in this regard, diplomatic sources say. He spoke about being aware of Bangladesh forex reserve situation.

The gamut of relations between the two countries is very wide. The relations were not solely restricted to issues of democracy and good governance. For quite some time Washington has been saying that economy is an important factor in cooperation---M Humayun Kabir, former Bangladesh ambassador to the US and director of Bangladesh Enterprise Institute (BEI)

In his interview with this correspondent, the US assistant secretary of state Donald Lu spoke about cooperation between the two countries, highlighting his country's eagerness to work with Bangladesh on good financial governance and eradicating corruption. He told the media that he was endeavouring to reestablish trust in the relations between the two countries.

Speaking about what message was conveyed by this visit of Donald Lu, former Bangladesh ambassador to the US, director of Bangladesh Enterprise Institute (BEI) M Humayun Kabir said the gamut of relations between the two countries is very wide. The relations were not solely restricted to issues of democracy and good governance. For quite some time Washington has been saying that economy is an important factor in cooperation. The matters of foreign currency reserves, reforms of the tax policy, the investment and business environment came forward. When the US ambassador visits Bangladesh Bank and talks to officials there, it is clear that the US has economic issues in its consideration.​

 

[Saif]

Message from Donald Lu’s visit: Reset, rebuild, and strengthen

Although Donald Lu had visited Bangladesh more than once before the general election, this was his first visit after the polls.

www.thedailystar.net

Message from Donald Lu's visit: Reset, rebuild, and strengthen

Photo: Collected

The words "reset," "rebuild", and "strengthen" normally imply the use of mechanical tools to reconstruct something that needs repair. However, the same words—when put in the context of diplomacy—can, and do, have the same connotations. During the just-concluded visit to Dhaka by the US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Donald Lu, these words appeared in various forms at briefings from both sides. This daily saw this as "an apparent policy reset" by Washington, and did so with an abundance of logic.

The comments to the media by the Adviser to the Prime Minister for Private Investments Salman F Rahman, following his dinner for Mr Lu, were very much on the upbeat side. Both the adviser and the state minister for information sounded exuberantly happy with whatever was talked and not talked about at the dinner table, where some current and former cabinet members were also present.

While talking to the media following his meeting with Dr Hasan Mahmud, the Bangladesh Foreign Minister, Mr Lu did not mince his words when he said the US administration's "hard work" to promote a free, fair and nonviolent election in January this year "caused some tensions here," but was also explicit that it was now time "to look forward and not look back." He also made it known that Washington is now seeking to "rebuild the trust in its relations between our peoples and in its relations with Dhaka." In essence, he admitted that certain moves from his government prior to the election did cause a perceptible dip in the element of trust.

Although Donald Lu had visited Bangladesh more than once before the general election, this was his first visit after the polls. In fact, this was the first visit to Dhaka from anyone at this level from Washington after the January 7 election.

While sending positive signals in general on the future of the bilateral ties between Bangladesh and the United States, Mr Lu also highlighted his government's plans to work together to fight corruption, promote transparency of governments and accountability of officials, labour reforms, human rights and reforms in the business climate. There was no clear answer to issues like lifting the sanctions on RAB (although a US government representative later clarified that the sanctions would not be lifted) as well as visa restrictions—both of which were imposed before the elections. There were a lot of speculations about the US position on these issues.

Mr Lu also spent an hour with the Minister of Environment Saber Hossain Chowdhury. Climate change and the ill effects of global warning for a country like Bangladesh are all too well-known. However, the US's offer of free real-time use of satellite data to monitor the impact of climate change has raised questions among some observers about if the offer was related to just monitoring climate change. Only time will tell.

By any measure, the optics emerging from Donald Lu's visit were good, and both sides have had much to feel pleased about. But as the saying goes, "the devil is in the details."

It is clear that Washington has decided to take the election issue out of the bilateral agenda. However, in the current and emerging global scenario, geopolitics has acquired a much greater place. When an official of the level of US assistant secretary of state talks of his government's wish to deepen its ties with Bangladesh, it is actually an expression of an intent, not necessarily an end in itself. Bringing that intent into a mutually acceptable level of fruition is the real challenge for both sides.

Bangladesh's relationship with the United States is no longer confined within the bilateral framework. The real canvas is much larger—it is the Indo-Pacific domain and how the US would want to see Bangladesh fit into this bigger picture.

According to some US officials and analysts, the US has a huge stake in Bangladesh for the former's Indo-Pacific strategy. In this, the relationship between the two countries has to have the elements of give-and-take and of reciprocity built into it. This involves mature diplomacy, a realistic and forward-looking mindset, and sustained engagement at all levels. Major global players are all too aware that Bangladesh today is in a position to exercise a good measure of autonomy in determining the course of its foreign and security policies, and to protect and preserve its national, political, and economic interests while maintaining strategic balance with its friends, both near and far. The visit of the Indian foreign secretary to Dhaka just a few days prior to that of Donald Lu also needs to be seen in that context. One can be sure that there will be others.

Donald Lu's visit can be seen as a first step in Washington's desire to reset its ties with Bangladesh, keeping the larger canvas in mind. How Bangladesh prepares itself for this scenario is something one needs to wait and see. The task, though, is by no means easy, and the challenges are many but not insurmountable.

Shamsher M Chowdhury, Bir Bikram, is president of Trinamool BNP and a former foreign secretary of Bangladesh.​

 

[Deleted due to Error (Muji Iqbal)]

Americans have tricked quite a few peoples for a material benefit.

There many things China, Russia, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, UK, Sweden, South Africa, Mexico, Brazil, and Japan do better than USA. Even India who are our enemy does quite a few things better than USA.

 

[Saif]

Americans have tricked quite a few peoples for a material benefit.

There many things China, Russia, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, UK, Sweden, South Africa, Mexico, Brazil, and Japan do better than USA. Even India who are our enemy does quite a few things better than USA.

American foreign policy is driven by its national interest. America's so called friends and allies work for safeguarding American interest. America never commits its resource to protect others interest.

 

[Saif]

Donald Lu's fuchka trip, sanctions on the general and some questions

There is no good news for those who had hoped that the sanctions against RAB would not last long because of RAB's tackling terrorism. The Leahy Act against SWAT is also still in effect. If the list of such sanctions continues to grow longer, will the economic and political harm remain at a...

en.prothomalo.com

Donald Lu's fuchka trip, sanctions on the general and some questions
Kamal Ahmed
Published: 24 May 2024, 09: 01

The diplomat who many held responsible for Imran Khan's downfall in Pakistan, Donald Lu, came to Bangladesh, ate fuchkha, praised the tasty snack, returned home, leaving the ruling party basking in smug complacence.

While Donald Lu did discuss the issue of corruption with the government representatives, the issue of the two countries working together came to the fore.

Foreign minister Hasan Mahmud went as far as to say that Donald Lu's trip to Bangladesh had sent BNP's head reeling, because the US wanted to take relations with Bangladesh further ahead. But then in the midst of all this, the sanction slapped on former army chief General Aziz Ahmed (retd), based on allegations made three and a quarters years ago, gave rise to a fresh bout of unease.

To read the rest of the news, please click on the link above.​

 

[Saif]

US businesses want continuation of tax policy in Bangladesh: Salman F Rahman

A delegation of US-Bangladesh Business Council meets the prime minister’s adviser on private industry and investment

www.thedailystar.net

US businesses want continuation of tax policy in Bangladesh: Salman F Rahman

A delegation of US-Bangladesh Business Council meets the prime minister's adviser on private industry and investment

US businesses want continuation of the existing tax policy to increase investment in Bangladesh, Salman F Rahman, prime minister's private industry and investment adviser, said today.

He made the comment after a meeting with the executive business delegation of the US-Bangladesh Business Council, held at the office of Bangladesh Investment Development Authority in Dhaka.

Senior officials from different companies, including Boeing, Excelerate, Amazon, Meta and Visa, attended the meeting.

Many foreign companies are coming forward to use artificial intelligence (AI) in the agriculture sector and they want to invest in Bangladesh, as they believe the country has investment-friendly environment, Salman F Rahman said.

Meta also wants to work in the field of AI in Bangladesh, he said.

Amazon already has business in Bangladesh and it now wants to work in export and import also, Rahman said.

Visa and Mastercard have expressed their willingness to introduce AI technology here.

"People now have to stand in line for a long time to purchase tickets for metro rail or at toll plaza. Inclusion of AI in Visa and MasterCard will bring a solution to that problem. The payment will be made through AI."

The prime minister's adviser also said he hopes the country's economy will be more stable within December this year.

The finance ministry and Bangladesh Bank are working for the reform of the banking sector and steps have also been taken to omit weaknesses of the share market, he said.

"There are challenges in Bangladesh economy. But we are capable of handling the challenges. The US dollar crisis is also minimising by the day."​

 

[Saif]

Bangladesh’s dependence on US soybeans growing

Bangladesh’s dependence on the US for soybeans has been increasing, particularly after the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war, with local traders, millers and conglomerates diversifying their sourcing for uninterrupted supply of edible oil and animal feed.

www.thedailystar.net

Bangladesh’s dependence on US soybeans growing

Soybeans grow in a field in Dwight, Illinois. Bangladesh’s dependence on the US for soybeans has been increasing, particularly after the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war. Photo: AFP/file

Bangladesh's dependence on the US for soybeans has been increasing, particularly after the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war, with local traders, millers and conglomerates diversifying their sourcing for uninterrupted supply of edible oil and animal feed.

Prior to the war's outbreak in February 2022, Bangladesh was meeting around 15 percent of its annual demand with US soybeans. However, it has increased to 40 percent since the war erupted.

Previously, Russia and Ukraine were the major cultivators of soybeans , wheat and corn and a stable source not only for Bangladesh but also for other South Asian countries.

About 90 percent of the edible oil consumed in Bangladesh is now imported. Over 60 percent of it is soybean oil, with a majority coming from the US, while the rest is palm oil

Bangladesh's import of soybean products has been growing over the last couple of decades for changes in food intake owing to rapid urbanisation and a reduction in cultivable land for the economy shifting to industrialisation.

The imports grew 169 percent year-on-year in fiscal year 2023-24.

In the marketing year 2022-23, Bangladesh imported 3.76 million tonnes of soybean products from all over the world, according to the US Soybean Export Council (USSEC).

Of it, 1.08 million tonnes, valued at an estimated $302.95 million, were from the US, according to the USSEC and United States Department of Agriculture.

One of the prime imports is edible oil. Previously local growers used to meet a majority of the demand for edible oil with mustard seed and rapeseed.

But that scenario has changed as 90 percent of the edible oil consumed in Bangladesh is now imported. Over 60 percent of it is soybean oil, with a majority coming from the US, while the rest is palm oil.

Local importers say the US soybean products are increasingly being preferred mainly for assurances of supply continuity, seed and grain quality, nutritional value and favourable prices.

For instance, the damage ratio of US soybean products is around 0.50 percent while that of products from other countries is nearly 4 percent.

American soybeans are much better than the Brazilian and Argentinian ones as the damage ratio is lower, said Amirul Haque, managing director of Delta Agrofood, at Soy Connext 2024.

He set up a mill last November taking note of the growing local demand and now processes 2,500 tonnes of soybeans per day.

Some 35 percent of his soybeans are from the US, and he believes it would increase if their price remains competitive.

The Meghna Group of Industries also sources the same portion of its raw materials from the US for its mill at Meghna Economic Zone in Sonargaon under Narayanganj district, which has a crushing capacity of 3,000 tonnes per day.

Its executive director, Varun Goyal, said they use the US soybeans from November to February but Brazilian soybeans for the majority of the year because of their price competitiveness.

He, however, said they would have preferred the US ones for the quality even if the prices had been $4 to $5 higher per tonne.

City Group also sources around 40 percent of its soybeans from the US for its edible oil plant which has a pressing capacity of 5,000 tonnes per day.

The company will launch another plant with a 3,000-tonne capacity next month to meet growing demand for edible oil and soybean feed, said its director for planning and business development), Md Imran Uddin.

The US beans are preferred for their quality and golden coloured oil and it will increasingly be used, he said on the sidelines of Soy Connext 2024.

Bashundhara Multi Food Products was also seeking information at the event on hearing of the assurance of competitive prices and supply continuity.

Its chief operating officer, Syed Farhad Ali Reza, said they would open a mill in November this year with a crushing capacity of 5,000 tonnes per day.

These gave hope to American soybean farmers, traders and government officials at the three-day Soy Connext, an annual signature summit of the USSEC ending today at San Francisco Marriott Marquis.

"I think the price of soybean oil and soybean meal increased over the last few years due to the demand increase," said farmer Jerry C Gaffner who produces around 35,000 bushels of soybeans a year on 525 acres of land in Illinois.

"…you now see the prices dropping rapidly due to the increase in supply of soybeans both in the United States and South America," he said.

Apart from quality, the Russia-Ukraine war played an important role for the increase in the import of US soybeans, said Khabibur Rahman, country team lead, Bangladesh of the USSEC.

There is a lot of potential as Bangladesh has an annual crushing capacity of 4 million tonnes, including those of big conglomerates like City Group, Meghna Group, Delta Agro, TK Group and Bashundhara Group, he said.

Currently, the mills crush 2.2 million tonnes of soybeans a year, he added.​

 

[Saif]

Finance Adviser urges US to invest more in Bangladesh

Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed urged investors from the United States (US) to invest more in Bangladesh’s agriculture, energy, climate change-related and other sectors. He made this call to the US while talking with reporters after a meeting with Helen LaFave, Charge d’ affairs of

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Finance Adviser urges US to invest more in Bangladesh
UNB
Published :
Aug 25, 2024 18:41
Updated :
Aug 25, 2024 18:41

Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed urged investors from the United States (US) to invest more in Bangladesh’s agriculture, energy, climate change-related and other sectors.

He made this call to the US while talking with reporters after a meeting with Helen LaFave, Charge d’ affairs of the US Embassy, Dhaka at the Bangladesh Secretariat on Sunday (August 25).

“The US is very important for us,” the adviser said. “The US has a large investment in the coastal region of Bangladesh. You will see that there are investments in coastal areas including Bagerhat, Pirojpur. But they are helping in different areas including the agriculture sector.”

“The main point is that we have talked about investing more in agriculture, energy, climate issues and other sectors from the US,” he pointed out.

He said, “I have given special attention to the issue of flood. You know that they have some conditions, especially with the BGMEA and GSP, to meet the challenges in the private sector; they have been urged to fulfill them.”

Apart from this, “If they want to export our goods, to invest, either direct investment and joint investment, they will do it. There was a discussion about what can be done especially in the technical sectors including BASIS.”

The finance adviser said, “We told them we were in huge debt. But we have no debt with the USA. All the help they gave, but not the loan, was grand. From that point of view, we are not burdened by their debt. That’s why I asked them to help. They will soon help the agriculture sector.”​