Newly appointed US envoy to arrive on 12 Jan

Diplomatic Correspondent :

The newly appointed United States Ambassador to Bangladesh, Brent Christensen, is scheduled to arrive in Dhaka on 12 January, ahead of the country’s upcoming national elections.

Following his arrival, Christensen will formally assume his duties after presenting his credentials to the President. Diplomatic sources said he is expected to begin his mission promptly and maintain a busy schedule from the outset.

Christensen’s arrival comes at a politically significant moment, with the 13th national elections scheduled to be held on February 12.

Sources indicated that he may hold meetings with leaders of various political parties as part of broader diplomatic engagements.

Ensuring a transparent, neutral and participatory election process is expected to be a key focus of his early activities. He is also likely to prioritise issues related to human rights, the Rohingya refugee crisis, and the strengthening of bilateral trade relations between Bangladesh and the United States.

Ahead of his posting, a three-member delegation from the US Embassy in Dhaka met Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday.

The meeting reportedly included detailed discussions on Christensen’s forthcoming arrival and related diplomatic matters.

A senior officer of the US Foreign Service, Christensen previously served as Political and Economic Counsellor at the US Embassy in Dhaka from 2019 to 2021.

His prior experience in Bangladesh and familiarity with senior political leaders are expected to assist him in engaging effectively on the ground.

The post of US ambassador had remained vacant since former ambassador Peter Haas departed Dhaka in July last year.

Tracy Ann Jacobson has been serving as Chargé d’Affaires in the interim. President Donald Trump nominated Christensen for the position in September, with the US Senate granting final approval in December.