US Pledges Stronger Strategic, Economic Ties With BD

US Special Envoy for South and Central Asia Ambassador Sergio Gor concluded his three-day maiden visit to Bangladesh on Friday, reaffirming Washington's commitment to strengthening strategic and economic cooperation while continuing support for resolving the Rohingya crisis.

According to the US Embassy in Dhaka, the visit highlighted the growing breadth of Bangladesh-US relations through meetings with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman, as well as a visit to the Rohingya camps in Cox's Bazar.

During his meeting with the Prime Minister at the Prime Minister's Office, Gor discussed bilateral relations, trade, investment, regional cooperation and other issues of mutual interest.

Following the meeting, the US envoy said enhancing economic cooperation and expanding the broader partnership with Bangladesh remain priorities for Washington.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman called for increased US investment, particularly in warehousing, soybean, cotton, wheat and the information technology sector, saying such investments would help build a stronger and more competitive supply chain.

The two sides also discussed expanding cooperation through the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC). Gor assured Bangladesh that the United States would work positively to increase DFC engagement in the country.

The envoy also said US investors in Bangladesh are interested in organising a US Investors Summit in the country in the near future and that he is personally working to facilitate the initiative.

Discussions also covered expanding cooperation with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), with Gor saying the agency would resume inspection activities in Bangladesh.

He also welcomed the US decision to lower its travel advisory for Bangladesh from Level 3 ("Reconsider Travel") to Level 2 ("Exercise Increased Caution"), saying the move reflects growing confidence in Bangladesh's security environment and is expected to encourage more US investment.

During his visit to Cox's Bazar, Gor praised Bangladesh for hosting more than one million forcibly displaced Rohingyas and reaffirmed continued US humanitarian support. He also stressed the need for a sustainable political solution to the Rohingya crisis through coordinated regional and international efforts.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman thanked the United States for providing more than half of the international humanitarian assistance for the Rohingyas.

Earlier, Gor held talks with Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman, who described Bangladesh-US relations as moving in a "very positive direction." Their discussions focused on trade, investment, energy cooperation, migration, the Rohingya crisis and Bangladesh's upcoming presidency of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly.

The foreign minister said there was no discussion on Bangladesh's relations with China or India and dismissed reports suggesting that Washington had proposed a humanitarian corridor into Myanmar.

The US Embassy said Gor's visit reaffirmed Washington's commitment to deepening cooperation with Bangladesh across strategic, economic and regional areas.