Bangladesh News Bangladesh - U.S.A Relation

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For nearly 50 years, the United States and Bangladesh have enjoyed cordial diplomatic relations and partnered on a wide range of security issues, including: border security, maritime security, counterterrorism, peacekeeping, defense trade, and defense institution building. The United States engages Bangladesh through several bilateral and multilateral fora, including the U.S.-Bangladesh Partnership Dialogue, the U.S.-Bangladesh Security Dialogue, and the ASEAN Regional Forum. Our two governments continue to work together to advance a shared vision of a free, open, inclusive, peaceful, and secure Indo-Pacific region.

Since 2015, the United States provided $66.9 million in Foreign Military Financing (FMF) and $7.29 million in International Military Education and Training (IMET) assistance to Bangladesh. FMF assistance includes $10 million in bilateral programming, and $56.9 million in Bay of Bengal Initiative Regional FMF.

The Department of State’s Bay of Bengal Initiative, through support provided via FMF, seeks to enhance the capacity of civilian and military actors to detect illicit activity within their borders and in the region, build networks and habits of cooperation to enable countries to share information, develop their capacity to respond promptly to illicit activity, and support our partners in enabling a rules-based order in the Indian Ocean Region.

U.S. security assistance to Bangladesh has enhanced its maritime security, freedom of navigation, and humanitarian assistance/disaster response capabilities in support of the Indo-Pacific Strategy. These funds have provided: patrol boats for the Bangladesh Army; additional patrol vessels for the Navy and Coast Guard; mine-resistant ambush protected (MRAP) vehicles for international peacekeeping and border security missions; electronic and mechanical upgrades to the fast patrol boats and former U.S. Coast Guard cutters currently operated by the Bangladesh Navy; technical and professional training for Bangladesh military and Coast Guard personnel; and joint military and coast guard training and exchanges to build coordination capacity for disaster response and maritime security operations.

Collectively, this support has substantially assisted Bangladesh in its efforts to enhance its maritime domain awareness and control, strengthened capacity to detect and respond to illicit activity and foreign malign intrusion in its territorial waters and exclusive economic zone, and secured its access to sea lanes and global commerce.

The U.S. government has $130.59 million in active government-to-government sales cases with Bangladesh under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) system. FMS sales notified to Congress are listed here. In 2012 Bangladesh acquired 4 C-130E transport aircraft worth $180 million. In addition, Bangladesh received 20 aircraft engines provided with Title 10 security assistance funding under the Excess Defense Articles (EDA) program.

Bangladesh also received two former U.S. Coast Guard Hamilton Class cutters via EDA in 2013 and 2015, which now serve as the two largest vessels in the Bangladesh Navy. The cutters have significantly increased Bangladesh’s capacity to provide maritime security through higher sustained transit speeds, greater endurance and range, and the ability to launch and recover small boats.

Additionally, Bangladesh received 50 EDA MRAP vehicles in 2019 to support its peacekeepers in Mali. The U.S. Army will ship 31 refurbished MRAPs to Bangladesh in May 2021, followed by U.S. contractor training in Bangladesh. The remaining 19 MRAPs and support equipment will depart in July 2021 for the U.N. peacekeeping mission in Gao, Mali.

In FY 2019, the United States also authorized the permanent export of over $6 million in defense articles to Bangladesh via the Direct Commercial Sales (DCS) process. The top categories of DCS to Bangladesh include aircraft and related articles; materials and miscellaneous articles; and fire control, laser, imaging, and guidance equipment.

Since 2005, the United States has contributed nearly $44 million to support training, equipment, and facilities upgrades to enhance Bangladesh’s peacekeeping capabilities. Bangladesh has long been a top troop and police contributing country to United Nations peacekeeping missions in Asia and Africa. Since 1988, Bangladeshi armed forces and police having participated in over 54 missions in 40 countries.

Currently 6,543 personnel are deployed in 7 UN missions and at UN headquarters, including: MONUSCO, UNIFIL, UNMISS, MINARSO, MINUSMA, MINUSCA. The Navy has deployed a corvette to support UNIFIL in Lebanon and riverine vessels to UNMISS in South Sudan. The Air Force also has helicopters and fixed wing aircraft supporting MONUSCO in DR Congo.

Bangladesh is also a leader in deploying female peacekeepers, with 1,803 total having participated and 251 currently deployed. Since 1999, the Bangladesh Institute of Peace Support Operation Training (BIPSOT) has hosted four iterations of ‘Shanti Doot,’ or ‘Ambassador of Peace,’ a multinational peacekeeping exercise with more than 1,000 participants from more than 30 countries that provides pre-deployment training to U.N. troop and police contributing countries.

Since 2010, the United States has conducted the annual multinational military exercise Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) with Bangladesh to expand relationships and enhance maritime domain awareness. Since 2008, Bangladesh has partnered with the state of Oregon via the National Guard’s State Partnership Program , where a state’s National Guard is partners with a foreign military in order to establish a relationship that fosters cooperation and understanding.

 

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Bangladesh is set to procure 3.36 million MMBtu of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Excelerate Energy LP of America with around Tk448.17 crore to meet the growing demand for energy.

The approval came from the 23rd meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase (CCGP) in this year, held virtually on Saturday with Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal in the chair.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, Cabinet Division Additional Secretary Md Shamsul Arefin said that Petrobangla the unit price per MMBtu of LNG would total $13.42.

The day's CCGP meeting approved a total of 16 proposals, Arefin added.

Out of the approved proposals, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) is set to procure seven tugboats from Dockyard and Engineering Works operated by Bangladesh Navy under the direct procurement method (DPM) with around Tk97 crore.

The meeting approved a proposal for appointing the joint venture of Northwest Hydraulic Consultants of Canada, Inros Lackner SE of Germany, Haskoning DHV of Netherlands, in association with local CEGIS, DDC, SPMC, and KMC with around Tk46.30 crore as consultants for conducting feasibility and framing detailed design under the Coastal Embankment Improvement Project Phase-1 (CEIP-1).

Prior to the CCGP meeting, the 19th meeting on the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) was virtually held on the same day with the finance minister in the chair.

The meeting approved a proposal in principle to reduce the timeframe for submitting tender bids to 15 days from 42 days from the publication date of advertisements in the newspapers as the government would procure 200,000 tonnes of wheat from Russia under the DPM method. Another 300,000 tonnes of wheat will be procured under open tender method.

 

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United States president Joe Biden has nominated Peter D Haas as ambassador to Bangladesh on Friday.

Haas, a career member of the US senior foreign service, class of ministercounselor, currently serves as acting assistant secretary of state and concurrently as principal deputy assistant secretary, for economic and business affairs for the Department of State.

Previously, he was senior advisor/deputy assistant secretary for trade policy and negotiations for the state department. He was also the deputy permanent representative to the US mission to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development in Paris, France.

Over his career he has served in positions across five geographic bureaus of the State Department including as consul general of the US consulate general Mumbai, India.

Haas holds a BA in International Studies and German from Illinois Wesleyan University. He attended the London School of Economics as a Marshall Scholar, where he earned MSc (economics) degrees in both the politics of the world economy and comparative government.

He is the recipient of the James Clement Dunn Award for Excellence and the Cordell Hull Award for Economic Achievement by senior officers. His foreign languages are French and German.

He will succeed current US ambassador Earl Miller in Bangladesh depending on confirmation by the US Senate.

Ambassador Miller is approaching the end of his three-year assignment as US ambassador to Bangladesh, a US embassy official in Dhaka said.

These nomination announcements are a regular part of the confirmation process for new US ambassadors, the official added.

 

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The United States Connecticut Governor of Ned Lamont has assured that he would help to address Bangladesh’s COVID-19 vaccination needs to cover its large population.

Lamont, who is an influential Democratic Party leader, made the assurance is commitment during his meeting with Bangladesh Ambassador to the US M Shahidul Islam at the Governor’s Residence in Connecticut on July 12, a press release said here today.

During the meeting, the governor agreed to explore avenues for commercial supply and co-production of vaccines in Bangladesh with the help of Pfizer global headquarters for the Central Research Division located in Connecticut.

 

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Prime Minister's Adviser for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Dr Tawfiq-E-Elahi Chowdhury has encouraged the US companies, including ExxonMobil, to invest in oil and gas explorations in Bangladesh, particularly the offshore ones.

He held a meeting with the senior officials of ExxonMobil, one of the world's largest publicly traded international oil and gas companies, Friday at the Bangladesh Embassy in Washington DC and welcomed their contributions to Bangladesh's energy sector, highlighting the crucial role of the US companies in this area.

Also, the adviser focused on the need for investment in building storage facilities for renewable energy in Bangladesh.

Having a balanced mix of energy sources is critical for Bangladesh and its development, he said.

Dr Tawfiq acknowledged that the companies like ExxonMobil, which are looking for liquefied natural gas (LNG) businesses in Bangladesh, require guarantying hedges against the price volatilities.

He asked ExxonMobil to expedite deep-sea exploration and to invest in upgrading transmission networks and land-based facilities.

ExxonMobil expressed a keen interest in working with Bangladesh to support the country's current pace of development and ensure access to energy.

Bangladesh Ambassador to the USA M Shahidul Islam and senior officials from Bangladesh Embassy and ExxonMobil were present at the meeting.

Later, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between Summit Oil and Shipping Co. Ltd and Commonwealth LNG at the Bangladesh Embassy in Washington DC in the presence of Dr Tawfiq.

The adviser welcomed the signing of the MoU as an important step towards further expanding the existing energy cooperation between Bangladesh and the US.

 

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Bangladesh wants to partner with the US private sector in the research and development of uninterrupted and affordable renewable energy sources.

Speaking at an “Energy Roundtable” organized by the US-Bangladesh Business Council (USBBC) in Washington, DC on Thursday, PM’s Adviser for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Dr Tawfiq-E-Elahi Chowdhury urged the US companies to explore the prospects of nuclear power modular reactors in Bangladesh.

He mentioned that Bangladesh has been working closely with its neighbours --India, Nepal, and Bhutan -- on regional power distribution, and the US companies may explore opportunities for investment there.

 

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The United States has proposed Biman Bangladesh Airlines to evacuate several thousand people, including Afghan citizens who had worked for the American troops, from Afghanistan.

"Initially, USA through several third parties offered us to evacuate around 45,000 people from Afghanistan. In the last 15 days, we had talks with the third parties for several times on this issue," a top official of planning department of the national flag carrier told The Daily Star today.

Biman Managing Director and CEO Dr Abu Saleh Mostafa Kamal told The Daily Star today that they are observing the overall situation of Afghanistan and will take decision in this regard.

"Before taking decision, we will have to know whether the Kabul Airport has the ground handling facilities and who will carry out the immigration formalities of the passengers," said the Biman MD.

Moreover, the Biman boss said, we have also informed the concerned leasing companies seeking their opinion to operate evacuation flights in Kabul at this time.

"We want to know from the leasing company whether we will get the insurance money in case of any unwanted incident," he also said.

A top official of Biman, wishing anonymity, said apart from Biman, USA had also offered Air Asia and Garuda Indonesia to operate evacuation flights from Kabul.

"The latest talks with a third party had taken place on August 14. But nothing was finalised," the Biman official told our correspondent.

He also said around 180 Afghan students, studying in different educational institutions in Bangladesh, are also trying to come back to Dhaka.

 

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An Indian-based private charter service provider company Air Charter service requested Biman Bangladesh Airlines to operate charter flights in Afghanistan to evacuate citizens stuck in the conflict-ridden country.

However, the state carrier decided not to operate charter flights as it did not get clearance from the insurer to operate evacuation flights in the war zone.

Air Commodore Dr Md Mahbub Jahan Khan, director at Corporate Planning and Training, said some third party charter companies contacted Biman to operate flights to evacuate around 45,000 citizens.

Following the request, Biman contacted the insurer company for clearance to operate the flights, he said.

He said, all aircraft are insured by foreign insurers and their clearance is needed for operating flights in the war zone. Because insurance costs will be high for operating such flights.

"Insurance companies discouraged us from operating flights at this moment," he said.

In this perspective, Biman decided not to operate charter flights in Afghanistan, he added.

Currently, various countries are operating charter flights in the war torn country to evacuate their citizens.

Biman has experience of operating such evacuation flight from war torn countries before, especially during the Iran-Iraq war in the 80's

 

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Bangladesh has rejected a request from the United States to give temporary shelter to some people from Afghanistan, saying Bangladesh is already in a big problem by giving shelter to over 1.1 million Rohingyas.

"Yes, we've received a request from the US. We thanked them but rejected the request," Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen told UNB over phone.

Asked from which level the request came from the US, the Foreign Minister said it came from diplomatic channels both from Washington and in Dhaka.

Dr Momen said the US is a friendly country to Bangladesh and conveyed the message to them that Bangladesh is already facing many problems by giving shelter to the Rohingyas.

"Don't put us into further trouble," he said, mentioning what Bangladesh conveyed to the US side after receiving the request.

The US side first reached out to the Bangladesh Ambassador in Washington with the request which was later conveyed to Dhaka.

Dr Momen said Bangladesh wanted to know the name of the countries that the US requested for giving people from Afghanistan a temporary shelter and how many in numbers. "No specific reply was found."

Earlier, the Foreign Minister Bangladesh will welcome the new government in Afghanistan if it is government-supported by its people.

"We believe in people's government. We believe in a government that is liked by its people. We believe in democratic government," he said, adding that Bangladesh's door will surely remain open if the Taliban government becomes a government supported by its people.

The Foreign Minister said Bangladesh believes in friendship to all countries and Bangladesh will extend support if any government seeks support from Bangladesh.

He said Afghanistan is a friendly country to Bangladesh and a member State of Saarc. "Bangladesh wants their (Afghanistan) development."

Responding to a question, Dr Momen said there were some terrorists in Bangladesh who were trained in Afghanistan. "We've uprooted them and there's no scope to see their reemergence here."

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), in a statement, said Bangladesh is carefully observing the fast-evolving situation in Afghanistan, which, Bangladesh believes, may have an impact on the region and beyond.

"We urge all stakeholders in Afghanistan to maintain peace and calm ensuring safety and security of all including foreign nationals," said the Ministry in a statement.

 

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Audacity of request is unbeleivable, like Bangladesh had any impact on Afganistan state of affairs, why they did not ask austraila, canada, gb, framce, germany, india....
 

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Good news honestly why should Bangladesh suffer the consequences due to the Americans?

A win for Bangladesh neutrality.
 

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The 23rd annual Chiefs of Defense (CHOD) Conference, held by U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, concluded August 18. The theme for this year’s conference was “Strengthening Partnership Networks for Preserving Peace and Security.” Planned sessions during the conference included Strengthening Partnership Networks for Preserving Peace and Security; The Role for Minilateralism In a Free and Open Indo-Pacific; and The Role of Women In Global Security.

This year’s conference concentrated on common security concerns and exploration of the most promising opportunities for countries in the region to promote good governance and inclusive security. Lieutenant General Waker-Uz-Zaman, the Principal Staff Officer for Bangladesh, remarked that attending the CHODs Conference was a worthwhile experience resulting in informative and interactive sessions.

“According to the honorable Prime Minister of our country, ‘Bangladesh shares the vision of a free, open, inclusive, peaceful and secure Indo-Pacific region with shared prosperity for all,’ said Waker-Uz-Zaman. “This particular statement signifies the importance of such conference. At the end, I would like to take this opportunity to express my thanks and gratitude for everything. May Almighty Allah bless us all.”

 

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The Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral M Shaheen Iqbal, left Dhaka today on invitation of US Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Michael M Gilday, to attend the 24th International Seapower Symposium in the United States.

The Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Operations) and the Naval Administrative Authority Dhaka officially bid the navy chief farewell at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.

Admiral M Shaheen Iqbal will participate in discussions at the symposium on the growing dependence on marine resources, maritime security and maritime stability, and the impact of climate change on international security during his visit to the United States.

He will be accompanied by Admiral Michael M Gilday; Admiral Tony Radakin, First Sea Lord and commander of the United Kingdom Navy; Admiral Samuel J Paparo, commander of the United States Pacific Fleet; Admiral Yudo Margono, chief of the Indonesian Navy; and Admiral Boo Suk-jong, chief of the Republic of Korea Navy.

He will also exchange views with representatives of other countries attending the symposium.

Admiral M Shaheen Iqbal's participation in the symposium is expected to strengthen Bangladesh Navy's cooperative relationship with the United States, as well as the development of mutual relations with navies from other countries.

The Chief of Naval Staff will return on September 19 following his visit.

 

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DHAKA, September 9 – Today U.S. Ambassador Earl Miller handed over 20 vessels to the Bangladesh Navy and Bangladesh Coast Guard in a virtual ceremony with Bangladesh Assistant Chief of Naval Staff for Operations Rear Admiral M Ashraful Haq and Rear Admiral Ashraf Hoq Chowdhury, Director General of the Bangladesh Coast Guard. The event marked the formal handover of 10 38-foot (11-meter) Defiant Class Metal Shark Boats and 10 25-foot (8-meter) Defender Class Boats to the Bangladesh Navy and Bangladesh Coast Guard following a request from the Bangladesh government. The United States Government provided the Metal Shark and Defender boats to improve the Bangladesh Navy’s and Coast Guard’s abilities to conduct maritime security operations and increase their capacity to monitor, patrol and respond to threats within Bangladesh’s coastal waters and Economic Exclusive Zone.

The 20 boats will significantly improve the maritime interdiction and counterterrorism capabilities of the Bangladesh Coast Guard and Bangladesh Navy’s Special Operations Force Special Warfare Dive and Salvage Unit. The U.S. and Bangladesh will conduct joint exercises in the coming months to train Bangladesh Navy and Coast Guard sailors to utilize this important new law enforcement and counterterrorism tool.

“These boats are another great example of the long history of close security cooperation between the United States and Bangladesh,” Ambassador Miller said.

This donation demonstrates the United States Government’s commitment to support Bangladesh in protecting its maritime borders and the freedom of navigation in the Bay of Bengal.

 

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Chief of Army Staff of Bangladesh General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed is scheduled to fly for the United States for an official visit upon the invitation of the US army.

He will leave Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) at 1:40am on Saturday, an Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) release said.

General Shafiuddin will attend the "Indo-Pacific Army Chiefs Conference (IPACC)-2021", jointly organised by US Indo-Pacific Command and the Papua New Guinea Defense Force where senior leaders from 17 countries of the Indo-Pacific region will attend.

The future of operational environment will be discussed in this year's IPACC conference.

The army chief will participate in bilateral meetings with counterparts of different countries at the conference.

The visit of the army chief is expected to further strengthen ties between the Indo-Pacific countries and the Bangladesh Army and increase possibilities for mutual cooperation.

General Shafiuddin is scheduled to return to the country on September 18, 2021.

 

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BGMEA President Faruque Hassan called on US brands and retailers to be more rational in pricing in order to build a secured global market where workplace and jobs will be safer and more sustainable.

He made the call while addressing a roundtable titled "Seven years after Rana Plaza: Who is doing what?" organised by the Bangladesh Embassy in Washington DC on September 10.

“Our factories are increasingly investing money for safety and sustainability. Besides, production cost has gone up by more than 30% in last five years. On the contrary, the price of our apparel is declining every year. While it’s a fact that in a free market economy price cannot be dictated, but nobody can justify a lower price to produce socially fair goods,” he said.

“It is the collaboration and partnership between brands and our suppliers that has helped us to achieve tremendous growth so far and future cooperation and partnership will help us to maintain this,” Faruque Hassan added.

Senior US government officials including Christopher Wilson, Assistant US Trade Representative for South Asia; William Jackson, Assistant USTR for Textiles, and Jennifer Larson, Director for South and Central Asia of the US Department of State; Maureen Haggard, Director for Democracy, Human Rights and Labour of the US Department of State; former Bangladeshi diplomat Farooq Sobhan, BGMEA Vice President Miran Ali, Ambassador Teresita Schaffer from the McLarty Associates, representatives of US-Bangladesh Business Council, American Apparel and Footwear Association, Walmart, Target, as well as senior officials of the Bangladesh Embassy participated in the roundtable.

BGMEA President Faruque Hassan briefed the US Government and relevant stakeholders about how the readymade garment industry of Bangladesh has undergone massive transformation over the last few years to become one of the safest industries in the world and have the highest number of green garment factories across the globe.

He also apprised the participants of the steps and measures taken by the industry to ensure workers’ wellbeing.

He urged the US government to consider reducing duty on apparel products from Bangladesh.

The BGMEA President called on US businessmen and non-resident Bangladeshis living in the US to explore investment opportunities in textile industries in Bangladesh, particularly in the non-cotton segment.

He also stressed the need for a unified code of conduct as multiple audits are not only waste of time and money, but also the audit fatigue makes compliance difficult for enterprises.

In his address at the roundtable Bangladesh Ambassador to the United States M Shahidul Islam highlighted the measures and initiatives taken by the government of Bangladesh to support the RMG industry in ensuring workplace safety and the welfare of garment workers in Bangladesh.

 

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