US envoy signals stronger Dhaka-Washington diplomatic ties
Diplomatic Correspondent:
US Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent Christensen has indicated a renewed commitment to strengthening existing diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and the United States.
The ambassador arrived at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs around 11:00am on Sunday, where he began his official engagements with a meeting with Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam. He later met Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain at his office.
Speaking after the meetings, Ambassador Christensen said the discussions covered various aspects of bilateral relations between the two countries.
“Excellent meeting with the adviser for foreign affairs Md Touhid Hossain. We had a productive discussion on key elements of our bilateral relationship,” Christensen wrote in a Facebook post shared by the US Embassy in Dhaka on Sunday.
Sources at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Bangladesh is seeking opportunities to reduce tariffs imposed by the United States. In this context, Bangladesh and the US may sign a trade agreement on Monday aimed at strengthening economic cooperation.
Last month, the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing said Bangladesh had achieved “significant progress” in enhancing mutually beneficial trade relations with the United States.
The development is expected to expand access for country’s garment sector to the US market and create new commercial opportunities.
According to the Press Wing, during a recent visit to Washington, National Security Adviser Dr Khalilur Rahman requested the US Trade Representative, Ambassador Jamieson Greer, to discuss the possibility of reducing the 20 percent tariff imposed on Bangladeshi products with US President Donald Trump.
Both sides also reportedly agreed to explore innovative solutions to support Bangladesh’s export sector.
During the meeting Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam was also present to discuss a range of bilateral issues of mutual interest.
The meetings with the adviser and the foreign secretary lasted for nearly one and a half hours. The meetings focused on strengthening cooperation between the two countries and reviewing ongoing areas of engagement, the source added.