Trade, refugees top Dhaka’s US Talks
Staff Reporter :
A visiting high-level United States delegation held extensive discussions with Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday, focusing on democratic reforms, upcoming elections, the Rohingya crisis, USAID aid, and trade relations.
The delegation was led by Nicole Ann Chulick, Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, and Andrew R. Herrup, Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs.
They met with Foreign Secretary Md Jasim Uddin at the Foreign Ministry.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Foreign Secretary Jasim Uddin said the Rohingya issue dominated the talks.
“The Rohingya issue was predominant in the discussion. We have given strong emphasis on it. They wanted to know the current situation of it as a high-level conference would be held in UN in September,” he stated.
He said Bangladesh has urged the US to play a more proactive role in resolving the prolonged Rohingya crisis and ensuring the safe and dignified repatriation of forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals.
“We sought continued US support on the Rohingya issue. The crisis has serious regional implications and it cannot be a burden for Bangladesh alone,” Jasim Uddin added.
The talks also touched on reforms initiatives and preparations for the upcoming elections under the interim government.
“We discussed the interim government’s reforms and the progress related to the upcoming election,” he noted.
In the economic segment of the dialogue, Bangladesh requested a review of the current US aid under USAID and raised concerns over the significant trade imbalance between the two countries.
“We also talked about reducing the trade gap and sought reconsideration of the 37% reciprocal tariff imposed on Bangladesh,” said the foreign secretary.
He acknowledged the 90-day pause announced by the US on the tariff imposition, but clarified Bangladesh’s position:
“We’re not seeing it as a pause. We will continue dialogue with relevant stakeholders to find a solution.”
The delegation’s visit is part of the continued US-Bangladesh engagement on bilateral, regional, and global issues.
The US delegation on a three-day visit in Dhaka is talking with political parties and different spectrum of people. On Wednesday, they talked with Bangladesh Nationalist Party, Jamaat-e-Islami and National Citizen Party leaders when they discussed on the elections and other issues.