PM committed to creating stronger, durable ties with US: Momen 

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is committed to creating a stronger, more durable and ever-flourishing friendship with the United States (US) as the two countries are celebrating 50 years of bilateral relations. 

"In this historic moment, I would like to reaffirm that Bangladesh deeply values its partnership with the United States," he said. 

The foreign minister was addressing a reception at the Bangladesh embassy in Washington DC celebrating 50-year anniversary of the bilateral relationship between Bangladesh and the US on Monday.  

Momen said the foundation of the warm bilateral relationship between Bangladesh and the US was laid down by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman when he visited the country in October 1974 and met the US President. 

"Since then, we have converged in an expanding collaboration in the pursuit of our common foreign policy objectives, both bilaterally and globally," he said. 

He said the government level engagements between the two countries have been complemented by growing people-to-people connectivity as well as increasing interaction between various organizations. 

The sizable number of Bangladesh Diaspora scattered all across the US is an essential bridge between our two nations.

"I have strong conviction today that these ties would continue to grow in the next 50 years," he said. 

Momen said the US remains the single largest foreign buyer for Bangladesh's readymade garments while the total trade volume with the US in FY 2019 stood at $9 billion and the figure is consistently increasing. 

"Bangladesh-US economic relationship stands on a sound footing . . . Our economic relationship is based on solid and generic complementarities," he said. 

He said Bangladesh would like to see that US investment in Bangladesh diversifies incorporating other sectors like ICT, agro-processing and renewable energy. 
 
"We hope that the US-Bangladesh Economic Partnership would be an effective platform to facilitate economic cooperation and people-to-people ties between the two nations," he said.

Despite multiple challenges, he said, Bangladesh remains a pluralistic democracy and the key asset of Bangladesh is its people as the country is constitutionally committed to upholding all kinds of civil and political rights of the people. 

"We follow a zero-tolerance policy against terrorism and violent extremism, and Bangladesh is being considered as a moderate Muslim majority country with commendable successes in women empowerment, communal harmony and freedom of expression," he said. 

Momen thanked the US for being the leading single contributor of humanitarian assistance in response to the Rohingya crisis. "However, we think the US can do a lot more for a sustainable solution to the Rohingya crisis," he observed. 

The foreign minister also expressed his gratitude to Washington as Bangladesh became the largest recipient of US vaccines worldwide, with more than 61 million doses of Covid inoculation. 

USAID Deputy Administrator Isobel Coleman was present as Guest of Honor on the occasion while Bangladesh Ambassador to the USA Shahidul Islam gave the welcome speech. 

Awami League Joint General Secretary Mahbubl Alam Hanif MP, Naim Razzaq MP, Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen and Secretary (West) of the foreign ministry Shabbir Ahmad Chowdhury were present, among others.