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President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has urged the United States to review and simplify its existing ‘visa bond’ system for Bangladeshi businesspeople and genuine tourists traveling to the country.
He made the call when US Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent T. Christensen paid a courtesy call on the president at Bangabhaban on Wednesday (September 2), according to the President’s Press Wing.
During the meeting, the president recalled the US investment and cooperation in Bangladesh’s agricultural sector, including its support for the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute and the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute. He also called for increased US investment and cooperation in the sector.
The president highlighted the investment and significant role of US-based Chevron in Bangladesh’s energy sector and urged greater American investment in the sector.
He said Bangladesh has significant potential in various sectors, including information technology, infrastructure, healthcare and high-tech industries. He also emphasized the importance of technology and skills transfer.
Mirza Fakhrul sought continued US support for ensuring the safe, dignified and sustainable repatriation of the Rohingyas to their homeland. The US ambassador assured him of continued cooperation and stressed the need to strengthen cooperation with ASEAN countries.
During the meeting, Ambassador Christensen congratulated Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and conveyed his best wishes on his assumption of office as president.
Thanking the ambassador, the president said the United States is one of Bangladesh’s important development and trading partners. He noted that the existing trade relations between the two countries play an important role in Bangladesh’s economic development.
The president said Bangladesh believes in maintaining friendly relations with all countries and expanding bilateral and multilateral cooperation. He emphasized that Bangladesh gives the highest priority to the principles of independence, sovereignty, national interests, mutual respect and equality in international relations.
He expressed hope that bilateral relations between Bangladesh and the United States would be further expanded in the future based on mutual respect and the protection of shared interests.
Referring to the mutual trade agreement signed between Bangladesh and the United States, the president described it as an important step forward in expanding trade relations between the two countries. However, he said there remains scope to make the agreement more balanced and mutually beneficial, taking into account the economic realities and interests of both countries.
The US ambassador, meanwhile, reiterated his country’s interest in further deepening and diversifying relations with Bangladesh.
