The United States looks forward to a free, fair, and acceptable election in February, pledging continued strong support for Bangladesh's democratic transition.
US Undersecretary for Political Affairs Alison Hooker expressed this optimism in discussions with National Security Advisor Khalilur Rahman, who is visiting Washington.
Press Minister of the Bangladesh Embassy in Washington, Golam Mortuza, said that the National Security Advisor held a meeting with the US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs and Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Paul Kapoor on January 9 local time. He also attended the swearing-in ceremony of the new US Ambassador to Bangladesh, Brent Christensen.
Mortuza also said that the upcoming elections, economic and trade relations between the two countries, the Rohingya issue, and regional issues were discussed during the discussions between the National Security Advisor and these high-ranking US officials.
Khalilur Rahman highlighted the potential for trade expansion between the two countries if agricultural imports from the US increase significantly. He requested for facilitation of travel of Bangladeshi businessmen to the US in the context of the recent visa bond and urged to consider exemption of Bangladeshi businessmen from visa bond for short-term business B1 visas, if possible.
Acknowledging the issue, Alison Hooker said the US government would consider this matter positively.
