Staff Reporter :
Bangladesh is seeking to expand its share of the vast United States market by boosting exports, Shafiqul Alam, Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser, said on Saturday.
“We aim for greater access to the US market. Like Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and Vietnam, we believe that expanding exports to the USA can set Bangladesh on a new path to prosperity,” he added.
The Press Secretary expressed optimism that recent successes in tariff negotiations have provided Bangladesh’s economy with a stronger platform and that bilateral trade relations with the US are set to deepen further.
He made the remarks at a roundtable discussion titled “Bangladesh and Trump’s Tariffs: Economic Diplomacy in a Post-Trade Order World”, held at the Daily Star building in Farmgate, Dhaka.
The event, organised by the Bangladesh Research Analysis and Information Network (BRAIN), also featured speakers including Professor Dr Rashed Al Titumir of Dhaka University and economists Jouti Rahman and Zia Hasan.
Shafiqul Alam described securing a 20% tariff reduction in recent negotiations with the United States as one of the interim government’s key achievements. “This negotiation was our biggest foreign policy challenge, but through careful preparation and confidence, Bangladesh achieved the desired outcome,” he said.
He noted that despite critics portraying the interim government as inexperienced and incapable of securing a favourable deal, the administration proved otherwise. “With the right preparation, even an interim government can deliver major successes,” he said.
Alam explained that the government, recognising its interim status, focused on achievable goals from the outset. Bangladesh also faced simultaneous challenges, including the Rohingya crisis and shifts in US tariff policy. According to Alam, National Security Adviser Dr Khalilur Rahman’s early observations of the Trump administration’s approach helped guide diplomatic preparations effectively.
Highlighting three factors behind the successful negotiations, Alam cited Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus’s strong personal network in the US, Dr Khalilur Rahman’s extensive experience, and Trade Adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin’s clear understanding of global markets.
He added that Bangladesh’s growing role as a major consumer and importer of commodities such as cotton, oil, poultry feed, and edible oil strengthened its negotiating position. Exports are also expanding in Japan, South Korea, Brazil, South Africa, and the Middle East.
Alam emphasised the importance of improving infrastructure, particularly the efficiency of Chattogram port, and reforming supply chains to attract and retain foreign investment. “If Chattogram port cannot match Singapore’s efficiency, foreign investment cannot be sustained,” he said.
He concluded that measures taken by the interim government have helped stabilise the economy, curb inflation, and increase foreign currency reserves. “While we may not yet have achieved 8% growth, post-uprising growth of 4% is a significant step forward,” Alam added.
