Bangladesh News Bangladesh - U.S.A Relation

[PutinBro]

He was asked multiple times, later once he said, Bangladesh won't sign agreement with a country who sanctions us.

He was probably fed up with questions.Officialy BD never withdrew talks with USA on this matter.

 

[yf120]

Bangladesh-US keen to begin new chapter in relations: Foreign minister​

Diplomatic Correspondent
Dhaka
Updated: 26 Feb 2024, 11: 05

Foreign minister Hasan Mahmud and the US delegation pose for a photoFacebook page US embassy Dhaka
Bangladesh and the United States are interested in starting a new chapter in relations, said Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud on Sunday.
He further said that the issue was discussed with the visiting US delegation in a very cordial atmosphere for more than an hour.

The members of the US delegation led by special assistant to the president and Senior Director of South Asia Affairs of the National Security Council Rear Admiral Eileen Laubacher met the Foreign Minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday.

The foreign minister informed the media after the meeting.
The US delegation also included Assistant Administrator at USAID Bureau for Asia Michael Schiffer and US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Afreen Akhter.

“How they (the US) can help us in our development journey and how to increase investment in Bangladesh was also discussed. Our mutual interest in starting a new chapter in the relationship was discussed in a very cordial atmosphere. We discussed it for more than an hour,” Hasan Mahmud stated.

The foreign minister also informed the media that talks have been held with US officials regarding bringing Bangabandhu’s self-confessed killer Rashed Chowdhury back to the country. “They are waiting for a decision from their judiciary regarding Rashed Chowdhury and they have informed us about it,” he added.

The cooperation between the two countries on security issues and the cooperation in international forums were also discussed, the foreign minister expressed.

When asked about the discussion on the agreements on GSOMIA (General Security of Military Information Agreement) and ACSA (Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement), Hasan Mahmud stated, “No specific agreement was discussed. But we are working on GSOMIA.”

Foreign minister Hasan Mahmud talks to the mediaCourtesy Foreign Ministry
In response to a question of a newsperson, the foreign minister said that there was no discussion on the recently concluded parliamentary election, meeting with the civil society and the country’s human rights situation.
Mentioning that there was a discussion on the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Hasan Mahmud said, “They informed us about five observations. We are working on those observations and they have started working on how to lift the sanctions.”

The foreign minister further said about the five observations on the lifting of sanctions against RAB, “They will inform us and we will convey those to RAB. We are waiting for details from them.”

The foreign minister also informed the media that the situation in Myanmar has created a security risk in Bangladesh and the matter was discussed in the meeting. “I have handed over to her (Rear Admiral Eileen Laubacher) the reply to the letter that President Joe Biden sent to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Our ambassador in Washington will deliver to her the original copy of the letter.”

Meanwhile, the US Embassy in Dhaka said in a post on its Facebook page about this meeting, “The United States supports a prosperous, secure, and #democratic Bangladesh. We discussed with the Foreign Minister, how our two countries can work on mutual interests, including #economic development, #security, #refugees, #climate, #labor, and #trade. #Bangladesh is an important partner in the Indo-Pacific region.”

Bangladesh-US keen to begin new chapter in relations: Foreign minister

Bangladesh and the United States aim to forge a new chapter in their relations, as discussed by Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud with a visiting US delegation. The meeting focused on mutual interests, economic development, security, refugees, climate, labor, and trade. The United States reiterated...

en.prothomalo.com

If he able to pull off GSOMIA-ACSA deals within the next 6 months or maybe a year then I might change some of my ill perceptions about this guy which I've for many years.

 

[PutinBro]

BD not working on ACSA.Only GSOMIA for the time being.Also such decisions are not taken by FM.

 

[yf120]

BD not working on ACSA.Only GSOMIA for the time being.Also such decisions are not taken by FM.

Makes sense for not going for ACSA now. I know there is a dedicated team working on these two but come on man, they're G2G agreements so, MOFA has a great deal and influence on it. By FM it doesn't literally mean only him.

 

[PutinBro]

US slaps sanctions on ex army chief Gen Aziz for 'significant corruption'

TBS Report
21 May, 2024, 06:00 am
Last modified: 21 May, 2024, 11:09 am

His actions contributed to undermining democratic institutions, said the US State Department​

Former Army Chief General Aziz Ahmed. Picture: Collected

The United States has imposed sanctions on former army chief Retd Gen Aziz Ahmed and his family over allegations of "significant corruption," stating that his actions contributed to undermining "Bangladesh's democratic institutions and the public's faith in public institutions and processes."

A statement published on the US State Department website yesterday (20 May) at midnight (Bangladesh time) announced the ineligibility of Aziz Ahmed and his family members from entering the United States.

"Aziz Ahmed engaged in significant corruption by interfering in public processes while helping his brother evade accountability for criminal activity in Bangladesh," US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in the statement.

As per the statement, Aziz also worked closely with his brother to ensure the improper awarding of military contracts and accepted bribes in exchange for government appointments for his personal benefit.

Previously in 2021, Al Jazeera releases an explosive documentary implicating Aziz and some of his family members in corrupt acts. However he had stated that the allegations against him are false, concocted and part of a conspiracy by vested groups.

"When I met my brother in Malaysia, there was no case against him. That case was due to a conspiracy, from which he was then acquitted. He was released in March, and I went to Malaysia in April. As a result, the propaganda that Al-Jazeera is running is completely malicious. The day I met him, there was no case against him, nor any sentence," he said in 2021.

Previously, the US Government sanctioned the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) on 9 December 2023 for alleged human rights violations, a move met with scorn and confusion from the government with Law Minister Anisul Huq calling the allegations "fictitious," and "extremely unfortunate."

Diplomatic efforts did not resolve the issue as was hoped following a meeting with Donald Lu, the US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs. During a US State Department press briefing, Vedant Patel said that claims of lifted sanctions were false, "The United States is not withdrawing the sanctions against RAB," Patel said.

The US has also recently imposed another round of sanctions on five Russian individuals due to their connection to transfers of military equipment between North Korea and Russia. Russia has grown increasingly reliant on ammunition purchases from North Korea as its invasion of Ukraine drags on in its third year.

Sanctions have also been applied to Sudan by the US Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control, who sanctioned Ali Yagoub Gibril and Osman Mohamed Hamid Mohamed who led the Rapid Support Forces' (RSF) war campaign. The RSF's attacks in North Darfur, which started last month, have caused dozens of civilian casualties, including children and have endangered nearly one million Sudanese civilians in the last major safe haven in Darfur.

US slaps travel ban on ex army chief Gen Aziz, family for 'significant corruption'

His actions contributed to undermining democratic institutions, said the US State Department

www.tbsnews.net

 

[PutinBro]

Defense Cooperation and Operational Flexibility: The Case for Bangladesh​

Situated on the tip of the Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh is one of the fulcrum points of the Indo-Pacific. Boasting a large maritime space in an area removed from the intensity of the South or East China Seas, yet close enough to support varied needs of the operations in those regions, Bangladesh could be a key logistics node for the U.S. Navy.

Its naval potential remains untapped, but the Bay of Bengal’s long maritime history provides a strong historical grounding.

It can play a vital role in maritime operations in the broader Indo-Pacific as it overlooks major trade routes going through the strait of Malacca and is adjacent to the Strait of Hormuz. With India and Myanmar as its neighbors, Bangladesh has significant challenges in its naval domain. However, it has a vibrant shipbuilding industry and Bangladesh Navy-owned repair facilities could support U.S. naval assets during any conflict.

Moreover, its naval bases potentially could be used either for logistical or, depending on the possibility of a defense agreement, in actual blockading operations supporting broader U.S. Navy goals in the Indo-Pacific region.

Strategic Positioning ​

Bangladesh’s primary naval bases overlook Myanmar’s Rakhine region and China-Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC), a key component of China’s belt and road initiative aimed at lessening pressure on Chinese sea lines of communication (SLOC) in the South China Sea. Cooperating with the Bangladesh Navy, the U.S. Navy could use those bases to observe Chinese projects.

Moreover, Bangladesh’s strategic vantage at the top of the Bay of Bengal funnel could provide the United States with an advantage in guarding the Malacca Strait, which is vital to the Chinese economy and industry.

Bangladesh recently promoted the notion of a “Free and open Indo-Pacific” in its policy outline. However, the policy reflects its traditional foreign policy dictum: “Friendship to all and Malice toward none.” Bangladesh respects the sovereignty of all other countries, political independence, and noninterference in the domestic affairs of other nations.

Thus, more engagement is necessary to incentivize Bangladesh toward a closer alignment choice that benefits U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy.
Bangladesh seeks the enhanced security of Indo-Pacific maritime sea lanes, crucial for maintaining its economy which is interconnected with the global economy.

A large segment of global maritime oil shipments transit the Indian Ocean region, including those of U.S. treaty allies such as Japan, the Republic of Korea, and the Philippines. Maintaining security in this region is essential not only for Bangladesh and its economy, but also for the U.S. Navy.

In developing the Indo-Pacific Outlook, Bangladesh recognized the importance of maintaining freedom of navigation, responding to maritime crises, and carrying out search-and-rescue operations in compliance with international conventions, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). While this clearly aligns with the rules-based order that the U.S. Navy seeks to enforce, the lack of clear alignment and the absence of concurrent maritime strategy and doctrinal documents reveal a slow-moving and risk-averse strategy.

The Bangladesh Navy​

It must be noted that the recently articulated Indo-Pacific Outlook echo the policies of the United States for a free and open Indo-Pacific. Aside from policy, Bangladesh has a moderately powerful navy and naval bases in the region. The Bangladesh Navy has undergone rapid modernization in recent years and has purchased significant U.S. and European equipment that has bolstered its capabilities. With the development of indigenous Link-22 standard Data Link, known as Bangla-22, and Western training and aspirations to model itself after Western navies, the Bangladesh Navy could be easily integrated into broader Indo-Pacific operations after proper interoperability exercises and operational changes.

In recent years, Bangladesh has increased its maritime security capability by purchasing submarines from China. In 2016, Bangladesh received two Ming-class submarines from China. Though the designs are older, these submarines are effective for training, capacity building, and area-denial roles. Bangladesh also is in the process of constructing a naval base with submarine berthing and aviation facilities, further enhancing its maritime capabilities with Chinese assistance and loans.

It is the lack of access to Western platforms and financing that has driven Bangladesh to source the submarines from China. If proper financing, technology, and platform support were offered, Bangladesh could be a potential candidate for modern Western diesel-powered conventional attack submarines.

The Bangladesh Navy also has a significant number of frigates, corvettes, and large patrol ships. Guided-missile frigates and corvettes are designed for antisubmarine warfare and are equipped with advanced armaments, including an FM-90N short-range air defense missile system, torpedo tubes, naval guns, machine guns, and aviation facilities for antisubmarine warfare helicopters. Large patrol crafts (LPC) play a significant role in Bangladesh’s naval fleet, enhancing its maritime defense and surveillance capabilities.

These vessels are designed to operate in various naval warfare scenarios, including air, surface, and subsurface operations. LPCs are integral to Bangladesh’s maritime defense strategy, safeguarding its exclusive economic zone, conducting search-and-rescue operations, protecting natural resources, and enforcing maritime laws in the region.

The United States should consider other similar equipment that could enhance Bangladesh's naval combat capabilities.
Bangladesh also has U.S. Coast Guard cutters and the modernization plans outlined in the Forces Goal 2030 would have transformed the surface fleet with modern platforms based on Western designs and philosophy.

Recent years have seen a significant slowdown of the naval modernization drive but a fresh injection of interest by the U.S. Navy, backed by a proper support package, could incentivize rapid movement on this front.

The United States would benefit from joining the Bangladesh Navy in its modernization effort by providing it with training and by selling them U.S. equipment and technology. These would enhance Bangladesh’s maritime security partnership with the United States and enhance mutual dependency. Moreover, the U.S. Navy could increase the number of its naval drills with Bangladesh involving varied degrees of complexity and spanning multiple domains to further provide that country with important operational experience and enamor them to the U.S. Navy.

Logistics and Safe Harbor​

During any potential conflict, Bangladesh’s naval bases could be a hub for logistics and a safe harbor for the U.S. Navy. The United States currently has no bases in the Bay of Bengal. While Diego Garcia Island will certainly be a logistics hub for operations in the Indian Ocean, Bangladesh—with its manpower, vibrant shipbuilding industry, and a professional navy—could offer U.S. Navy ships a place for rest, recuperation, and rearming.

Bangladesh currently is building a deep seaport in Matarbari, Cox’s Bazar with the assistance of Japan, one of the most trusted and important U.S. allies since World War II. Japan could help build a bridge between these two countries to ensure that the USN could use Matarbari deep-sea port as a naval operations base during any future war by blockading potential Chinese shipments that bypasses the Malacca to use CMEC as an alternative. This would provide the United States leverage against China in the Bay of Bengal region.

Smaller countries are often more interested in a close-knit relationship with bigger powers to offset the power imbalances they face when dealing with potential adversaries. With China firmly on the side of Myanmar as evident by the Rohingya refugee crisis, Bangladesh could provide the United States with an opportunity to establish a long-term partnership as a counter to China-dominated Myanmar. Along with potential base facilities, Bangladesh is also a vibrant and aspiring democracy.

This aligns with the United States’s global value-based order as long as Bangladesh retains its democratic credentials.

Bangladesh’s location also has the potential to allow U.S. long-range ISR advantages over China by creating pressure on not only the Tibetan front, but also on Yunan.

Bangladesh can be one of the most effective partners for the United States in the Indian Ocean and the United States would benefit from a cordial relationship with it.

Defence Cooperation and Operational Flexibility : The Case for Bangladesh

 

[Isa Khan]

Bangladesh could be a key logistics node for the U.S. Navy.

However, it has a vibrant shipbuilding industry and Bangladesh Navy-owned repair facilities could support U.S. naval assets during any conflict.

Cooperating with the Bangladesh Navy, the U.S. Navy could use those bases to observe Chinese projects.

Bangladesh’s strategic vantage at the top of the Bay of Bengal funnel could provide the United States with an advantage in guarding the Malacca Strait, which is vital to the Chinese economy and industry.

The United States would benefit from joining the Bangladesh Navy in its modernization effort by providing it with training and by selling them U.S. equipment and technology.

During any potential conflict, Bangladesh’s naval bases could be a hub for logistics and a safe harbor for the U.S. Navy. The United States currently has no bases in the Bay of Bengal. While Diego Garcia Island will certainly be a logistics hub for operations in the Indian Ocean, Bangladesh—with its manpower, vibrant shipbuilding industry, and a professional navy—could offer U.S. Navy ships a place for rest, recuperation, and rearming.

Japan could help build a bridge between these two countries to ensure that the USN could use Matarbari deep-sea port as a naval operations base during any future war by blockading potential Chinese shipments that bypasses the Malacca to use CMEC as an alternative. This would provide the United States leverage against China in the Bay of Bengal region.

Bangladesh could provide the United States with an opportunity to establish a long-term partnership as a counter to China-dominated Myanmar.

Bangladesh’s location also has the potential to allow U.S. long-range ISR advantages over China by creating pressure on not only the Tibetan front, but also on Yunan.

Yeah, keep dreaming. Never happening!! We didn’t liberate our country from one slave to lick another's boot!!

The whole article is about giving US all the benefit & access to Bangladeshi military & civilian installations to counter China. What a load of crap!! Nothing about defence cooperation.

Most shocking part is two Bangladeshis from DU wrote this. How much US paid these two?! Are they trying to prove that Hasina was right?!

 

[PutinBro]

Nothing about defence cooperation.

The Bangladesh Navy​

It must be noted that the recently articulated Indo-Pacific Outlook echo the policies of the United States for a free and open Indo-Pacific. Aside from policy, Bangladesh has a moderately powerful navy and naval bases in the region. The Bangladesh Navy has undergone rapid modernization in recent years and has purchased significant U.S. and European equipment that has bolstered its capabilities. With the development of indigenous Link-22 standard Data Link, known as Bangla-22, and Western training and aspirations to model itself after Western navies, the Bangladesh Navy could be easily integrated into broader Indo-Pacific operations after proper interoperability exercises and operational changes.

In recent years, Bangladesh has increased its maritime security capability by purchasing submarines from China. In 2016, Bangladesh received two Ming-class submarines from China. Though the designs are older, these submarines are effective for training, capacity building, and area-denial roles. Bangladesh also is in the process of constructing a naval base with submarine berthing and aviation facilities, further enhancing its maritime capabilities with Chinese assistance and loans.

It is the lack of access to Western platforms and financing that has driven Bangladesh to source the submarines from China. If proper financing, technology, and platform support were offered, Bangladesh could be a potential candidate for modern Western diesel-powered conventional attack submarines.

The Bangladesh Navy also has a significant number of frigates, corvettes, and large patrol ships. Guided-missile frigates and corvettes are designed for antisubmarine warfare and are equipped with advanced armaments, including an FM-90N short-range air defense missile system, torpedo tubes, naval guns, machine guns, and aviation facilities for antisubmarine warfare helicopters. Large patrol crafts (LPC) play a significant role in Bangladesh’s naval fleet, enhancing its maritime defense and surveillance capabilities.

These vessels are designed to operate in various naval warfare scenarios, including air, surface, and subsurface operations. LPCs are integral to Bangladesh’s maritime defense strategy, safeguarding its exclusive economic zone, conducting search-and-rescue operations, protecting natural resources, and enforcing maritime laws in the region.

The United States should consider other similar equipment that could enhance Bangladesh's naval combat capabilities.
Bangladesh also has U.S. Coast Guard cutters and the modernization plans outlined in the Forces Goal 2030 would have transformed the surface fleet with modern platforms based on Western designs and philosophy.

Recent years have seen a significant slowdown of the naval modernization drive but a fresh injection of interest by the U.S. Navy, backed by a proper support package, could incentivize rapid movement on this front.

The United States would benefit from joining the Bangladesh Navy in its modernization effort by providing it with training and by selling them U.S. equipment and technology. These would enhance Bangladesh’s maritime security partnership with the United States and enhance mutual dependency. Moreover, the U.S. Navy could increase the number of its naval drills with Bangladesh involving varied degrees of complexity and spanning multiple domains to further provide that country with important operational experience and enamor them to the U.S. Navy.

 

[Isa Khan]

The White House has avoided Bangladesh issues in its readout, though the Indian side, through their Prime Minister's Office, has said Biden and Modi discussed the situation in Bangladesh as well as other issues.

White House readout on Biden-Modi call avoids Bangladesh issues

The US president commended the Indian prime minister for his historic visits to Poland and Ukraine

www.tbsnews.net

 

[Isa Khan]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1838613928420520253

US President Joe Biden has offered his country's full support to Bangladesh and Muhammad Yunus-led interim government during his bilateral meeting with the chief adviser on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.

Chief Adviser Prof Yunus' meeting with the US president today is seen as a "rare occasion" and this is the first time in the history of Bangladesh that a US president met the head of Bangladesh government on the sidelines of UNGA, according to a statement from the Chief Adviser's Office.

During the meeting Prof Yunus apprised Biden about how the students rose against the tyranny of the previous government and gave their lives to create this opportunity to rebuild Bangladesh.

He stressed that his government must succeed in rebuilding the country and would need US cooperation.

President Biden said if the students could do so much sacrifice for their country, they too should do more.

Prof Yunus handed a copy of The Art of Triumph, a book on wall paintings drawn by the students and young students during the revolution, to President Biden during the meeting.

Yunus is on his first visit to the US as head of the Bangladesh government to attend the 79th UNGA. The general debate of UNGA began today, and will continue through 28 September, and conclude on 30 September.

The theme for the general debate is "Leaving no one behind: acting together for the advancement of peace, sustainable development and human dignity for present and future generations."

Regarding the meeting with Biden, Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said, "This is an important day. It is very rare [to see such a meeting] at the UNGA."

Shafiqul said Bangladesh in any case maintains very good relations with the US and with this meeting the relationship will reach a new level, reports UNB.

"It's good news that the US stands beside Bangladesh in this period of transition," he added.

The meeting is very significant as no US president has held a bilateral meeting with any Bangladesh head of government in the past decades in New York, reports UNB.

By having this meeting, Washington is signalling not just bilaterally or regionally, but to the world at large that it is standing by Bangladesh during the period of upheaval it is going through.

It is not usual for a US President to hold bilateral meetings during the UNGA and Dhaka hopes to see a new strategic partnership emerge from this meeting that will strengthen the ties with the US on all fronts.

World leaders greet Yunus

Earlier in the day, Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus was greeted by several world leaders after he joined at a welcome reception hosted by United Nations (UN) Secretary General Antonio Guterres, reports BSS.

The reception ceremony began at 8am (New York time) at North Delegate Lounge of the UN headquarters in New York to welcome the global leaders joining the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Prof Yunus exchanged pleasantries with Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, President of Mauritius Prithvirajsingh Roopun and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk, among others.

Yunus meets Trudeau

Meanwhile, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, Chief Adviser Prof Yunus met Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

During the brief meeting, the two leaders discussed ways to cement Bangladesh-Canada relationships, deepen freedom, build institutions, and support the youth of Bangladesh.

Trudeau appreciated Prof Yunus for assuming the responsibility and expressed Canada's readiness to support institution building in Bangladesh.

The chief adviser described how the previous regime destroyed institutions of the country. He appreciated Canada for its friendship with Bangladesh and the Canadian government's support for the interim government.

Prof Yunus requested Canada grant more visas to Bangladeshi students.

The chief adviser also handed over The Art of Triumph art book to the Canadian prime minister, according to the CA's press wing.

The chief adviser will also meet the IMF managing director and the Italian prime minister and will also speak at the Clinton Global Initiative and at Friends of Bangladesh.

Biden offers full US support to Yunus-led interim govt

Dr Yunus-Biden meeting to help take Dhaka-Washington ties to new level, says CA's press secretary

www.tbsnews.net

 

[Isa Khan]

The U.S. Global Peacekeeping Operations Initiative and the Office of Defense Cooperation at the U.S. Embassy handed over airfield support equipment including telescopic forklifts and an aircraft tow tractor to Bangladesh Air Force's 212 Maintenance Unit.