A photo caption published yesterday in this newspaper stated that Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser and the President of the United States, Joe Biden, shared a rare hug during a bilateral meeting on Tuesday’s sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.
This intimate gesture signifies a new beginning in Bangladesh-US relations, following years of strained ties during the authoritarian rule of Sheikh Hasina’s regime over the past fifteen years.
We are happy to learn that the US decision to engage in high-level economic discussions with Bangladesh’s interim government is a significant development with immense promise for the country’s future.
Under the leadership of Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, Bangladesh now has a unique opportunity to reset its political and economic trajectory, recovering from past challenges and charting a course towards a brighter future.
The US-Bangladesh relationship has been a cornerstone of economic cooperation, with the United States being Bangladesh’s largest source of foreign direct investment and its largest market for garment exports.
However, the recent political upheaval presents a new landscape, requiring a renewed focus on economic reforms and stability.
Under the deposed Hasina’s authoritarian rule, the country’s foreign policy lost its way completely. It became overly dependent on neighbouring India. Bangladesh’s determination of foreign relations was driven by prioritising India’s interests. As a result, the independence and sovereignty of the country were threatened.
The United States and Western powers also evaluated their relationship with Bangladesh through the lens of India. This has been not only humiliating for us but also alarming for the country’s economy, politics, and existence.
The US-Bangladesh partnership also provides an opportunity to dispel the false narrative perpetuated by India about Bangladesh’s susceptibility to Islamist extremism. India’s claims have been strategically used to justify its influence over its neighbour, undermining Bangladesh’s efforts to forge stronger ties with other countries.
However, Bangladesh’s progress in women’s empowerment, education, and economic growth contradicts this narrative.
With US help, focusing on reforms, reinstating GSP facilities, addressing labour rights, and promoting stability, Bangladesh can position itself as a model for economic development and regional cooperation in South Asia.
We hope, with full cooperation from the United States, Bangladesh could potentially find a permanent solution to the Rohingya crisis.
The people of Bangladesh want a close relationship with the United States, but it must be direct. We hope the US will move forward with a new relationship with Bangladesh as a sovereign state.