Bangladesh (Commonwealth Union)_ Foreign Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud announced that Bangladesh and the United States have reached an agreement to strengthen bilateral ties, enhance economic cooperation, and collaborate in combating terrorism and fanaticism.
Speaking to reporters after a meeting with US Ambassador Peter Haas and European Union Ambassador Charles Whiteley, Mahmud highlighted the shared commitment to deepening relations between the two nations. He said, “We (Bangladesh and the US) have expressed our willingness to work together to deepen our ties, to increase our cooperation in expanding business, and tackle anti-terrorism and fanaticism”.
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The minister disclosed that discussions included the potential for oil exploration in the Bay of Bengal, with an American company identifying promising oil reserves off the coast of Bangladesh. Mahmud emphasized the economic benefits that Bangladesh could accrue through the extraction of these reserves. Addressing the recent election, Mahmud stated that the US ambassador did not raise any questions regarding the polls, but he personally briefed Haas on the arson attacks executed by BNP activists prior to the January 7th election.
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The minister expressed gratitude to Haas for the US election observers’ involvement, noting that observers from various countries deemed the polls free and fair. He said, “There were different opinions from different countries regarding the elections. But the important factor is that they are working with the new (Bangladesh) government. We are working together to advance our relations ahead … we talked about the matter, and we had a very fruitful discussion”.
Regarding the withdrawal of US sanctions on RAB (Rapid Action Battalion), Mahmud confirmed that the issue was discussed and efforts were underway to address it. He highlighted existing defense cooperation between Bangladesh and the US, emphasizing the ongoing discussions on this matter. The Rohingya issue was also on the agenda, with Mahmud reiterating Bangladesh’s plea for Washington’s support in initiating the repatriation of displaced Rohingya refugees from Bangladesh to Myanmar. He acknowledged the US’s continuous support for the Rohingya crisis and expressed a commitment to working together in the future.
US Ambassador Peter Haas, after the meeting, affirmed Washington’s intention to collaborate closely with the new Bangladeshi government on commerce, climate change, and the Rohingya issue. He emphasized discussions on expanding business opportunities and addressing the challenges posed by the Rohingya crisis. Haas did not take questions from journalists but conveyed a positive outlook on the future of Bangladesh-US relations. He said, “We talked about the future of the Bangladesh-US relationship and how we will work together on issues of mutual important areas such as expanding business opportunities and Rohingyas”.
