US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu will embark on an official visit to Bangladesh on May 14 as part of his tri-nation tour of the region. He will visit India and Sri Lanka before coming to Dhaka.
Donald Lu’s trip will strengthen bilateral cooperation with each country and demonstrate US support for a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region, the State Department said in a release on Thursday, May 9, 2024.
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He will meet Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud, Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen, Prime Minister’s Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman F Rahman, and civil society leaders to discuss US-Bangladesh cooperation, including addressing the climate crisis and deepening economic ties.
Centering Donald Lu’s visit, there are speculations on why he is coming to Bangladesh at a time when the Awami League formed the government through the 12th national election on January 7 amid the BNP-Jamaat axis boycott and widespread violations. In the run-up to the 12th National Parliamentary Election, the USA was accused of aiding the opposition and BNP leaders often voiced hope that the USA will pressurize the government to step down. However, it was not happened. A new stable government was formed and international partners are looking forward to work with Bangladesh in different arena.
After the January 7 national election, the US in a statement on January 8 said, “Looking ahead, the United States remains committed to partnering with Bangladesh to advance our shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific, to supporting human rights and civil society in Bangladesh, and to deepening our people-to-people and economic ties.”
In February this year, Eileen Laubacher, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for South Asia, US National Security Council (NSC); Michael Schiffer, USAID Assistant Administrator, Bureau for Asia; and Afreen Akhter, US Department of State Deputy Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asia, paid a three-day visit to Bangladesh.
Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen on Thursday (May 9) told journalists that the scope and thrust of Donald Lu’s visit is likely to differ greatly from previous ones — before the elections in Bangladesh.
“The pre-election scenario and the current one are totally different. A new government has been formed. A stable government is carrying forward its activities by engaging with various countries. All countries think of engaging with Bangladesh,”
– Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen
He said all elements of mutual relations — political, economic, and even security issues will be discussed.
“We have many mechanisms, platforms, and dialogues with them [US]. It will be looked into how all these can be reactivated and what are the mechanisms we can take forward,” said the foreign secretary.
Asked about the pre-election discomfort, the foreign secretary said Bangladesh never felt discomfort. They might have felt that.
“From our side, there was no discomfort before the elections, and still we do not have any discomfort,” he said.
‘Rohingya Issues to be Discussed’
Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud on May 8 said that Donald Lu’s upcoming visit will focus on the Rohingya crisis. “Look, Donald Lu is coming mainly to discuss the Rohingya crisis,” he told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs while responding to a question. “Other issues will certainly come up for discussion, Hasan said.”
The foreign minister said relations with the US remain ‘excellent’, and the two countries are working closely to further improve the ties. “In the future, we will continue to work closely, and the relations will be deepened,” he added.
“There is willingness from both sides. Together, we want to create a new chapter in our relations,” Hasan Mahmud told reporters after he met with the US delegation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at that time.
“There is willingness from both sides. Together, we want to create a new chapter in our relations,”
– Dr. Hasan Mahmud, Foreign Minister
Donald Lu is no longer a stranger to the people of Bangladesh. His two previous visits in January and July last year gave rise to much discussion. He had repeatedly given ‘prescription’ for what he called fair polls. In November, just weeks before Bangladesh’s national election, he wrote to the Awami League, BNP, and Jatiya Party.
Economic Ties
The economic relationship between the US and Bangladesh has grown by leaps and bounds in recent years, with the US continuing to be one of Bangladesh’s biggest export markets, especially when it comes to textiles and apparel. Trade and investment are essential for both countries, and they play a huge role in promoting sustainable growth.
Bangladesh exports a wide range of products to the US, from ready-made garments and footwear to seafood. On the flip side, American imports to Bangladesh include things like agricultural products, machinery, and high-tech goods. In 2022 alone, bilateral trade between the two countries topped $6 billion, which is a pretty impressive figure.
Investment Focus
The US is also a major source of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Bangladesh. One only has to look at Chevron – their operations in Bangladesh’s natural gas sector are a prime example of how deep American investment goes. Chevron accounts for an astonishing 50% of Bangladesh’s total gas production. Both the US and Bangladesh are keen to expand trade and investment even further, intending to strengthen their economic ties.
When looking at the big picture, it’s clear that the strategic cooperation between the US and Bangladesh is a major step in the right direction. By working together on security and sharing a vision for the Indo-Pacific, the two countries are making their relationship stronger and setting the stage for even more cooperation in the future. It’s obvious that both sides care a lot about keeping the region stable and secure, and this strategic partnership shows that they’re committed to working together to make that happen.
