On Jan. 17, 2024, the US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas met newly appointed Bangladeshi Minister of Foreign Affairs Hasan Mahmud and mentioned the issues of mutual pursuits, such as weather transform, bilateral industrial ties and the Rohingya disaster. Just 10 days in advance of the meeting, on Jan. seven, the 12th normal election in Bangladesh was held, and in its aftermath, the United States had expressed its determination to the growth of the partnership involving Dhaka and Washington. Therefore, it appears that Washington, irrespective of its reservations about the inside political dynamics in Bangladesh, is keen to bolster its partnership with Dhaka.
Due to the fact the US recognition of Bangladesh’s independence on 4 April 1972, Dhaka and Washington have shared sturdy political, financial, protection, cultural, and humanitarian ties with every single other. At existing, Bangladesh and the US share a extensive partnership, which ranges from trade and security to local climate and humanitarian motion. The US continues to be just one of the most crucial associates for Bangladesh, though owing to Bangladesh’s strategic site in the Indo-Pacific location, its geopolitical salience for the US is raising. That’s why, it will serve the pursuits of equally states if they increase their cooperative ties on political, economic, cultural, and humanitarian sectors.
Political Harmony
Bangladesh and the US have so far held 8 Partnership Dialogues and eight Protection Dialogues, and substantial-level contacts concerning the political leaderships of the two countries is widespread. In phrases of overseas policy, Bangladesh and the US have no basic clash of pursuits. On the opposite, Bangladesh has declared its commitment to a absolutely free and open Indo-Pacific in its Indo-Pacific Outlook, mirroring the US Indo-Pacific System. On the Ukrainian crisis, Bangladesh has adopted a plan of beneficial neutrality, and it is complying with US sanctions regime. Although there exist a several points of friction, Dhaka and Washington can pragmatically compartmentalize individuals concerns and address them on a case-by-situation foundation, though continuing their developing multi-pronged partnership.
On the political front, each Dhaka and Washington can undertake a variety of techniques to deepen their bilateral ties. On its aspect, Dhaka ought to undertake steps to assuage US fears about the inner political dynamics and labour legal rights in Bangladesh. On the other hand, the US really should chorus from employing economic resources as political weapons against Dhaka. In its place, the international locations need to institutionalize their bilateral ties into a strategic partnership, which would complement the previously existing Sino–Bangladeshi and Japanese–Bangladeshi strategic partnerships. In addition, using into account Bangladesh’s considerable ties with India and the US, the a few nations can produce a trilateral dialogue forum for expanding their political ties. Last but not the minimum, the two counties must improve their safety partnership by maximizing collaboration (specially intelligence-sharing) on counter-terrorism, cyber-stability, and combatting transnational crimes, internet hosting far more joint military services physical exercises, and facilitating Bangladesh’s acquisition of state-of-the-art US military gear.
Economic Partnership
Bangladesh and the US have concluded the Trade and Financial investment Cooperation Discussion board Settlement (TICFA) as properly as a treaty on the avoidance of double taxation. Presently, the US is the threerd greatest buying and selling lover of Bangladesh. It constitutes the one greatest export sector for Bangladesh, absorbing virtually 20% of Bangladeshi exported products. Also, the US is the major source of international immediate financial investment (FDI) for Bangladesh, with US FDI in the state amounting to $4.1 billion and 19% of total FDI obtained. In addition, the US is the single premier trader in Bangladesh’s vitality sector. In addition, the US is at this time the greatest resource of remittances for Bangladesh, with sixteen% of the country’s remittances coming from the States. It need to be observed that remittances and the earnings from the export of readymade garments (RMG) serve as the engine of the Bangladeshi economic climate. As a result, the US, by virtue of currently being the largest resource of remittances and the premier export market place for Bangladesh, is a critical financial lover for Dhaka.
Dhaka and Washington can further more advance this multifaceted economic partnership. Bangladesh is projected to be the 9th greatest client current market by 2030, and so it will be mutually advantageous for Dhaka and Washington to bolster their financial ties. Attracting FDI is a best precedence for Bangladesh, and the country has appropriately adopted an open up and liberal FDI plan. The US can significantly boost its investments in a number of sectors of Bangladeshi economy, including electricity and vitality, facts engineering (IT), infrastructure, light-weight engineering and electronics, auto industry, agro-processing, prescribed drugs, and ceramics. To choose an illustration, US firms can devote in the developing IT sector in Bangladesh, and employ thousands of experienced Bangladeshi IT personnel. This will minimize unemployment in Bangladesh and minimize fees for US organizations. In the same way, US companies really should commit a lot more in other sectors of Bangladesh, and the latter need to generate a additional favourable opportunities for the infusion of much more US FDI into the place.
Also, less than the US-led Partnership for World wide Infrastructure and Expenditure (PGII), the US can devote in the growth of substantial-good quality and sustainable infrastructure in Bangladesh. Also, US can present Bangladesh with technological know-how in exploring the Bay of Bengal for potential hydrocarbon reserves.
Cultural Collaboration
Owing to the relentless push of globalization, the US tradition has left a significant imprint on Bangladesh. This cultural bond is bolstered by the existence of around 800,000 Bangladeshis on US territory. The US is also the most most well-liked vacation spot for Bangladeshi pupils who want to review abroad, and the nation presently hosts far more than 13,500 Bangladeshi college students.
The two nations around the world can strengthen the exist cultural collaboration by endeavor a lot more cultural trade courses, arranging cultural fairs and exhibitions, and bolstering folks-to-folks ties. Specifically, Washington ought to provide far more Bangladeshi students to pursue increased scientific tests in the US. On its aspect, Bangladesh should carefully create its tourism infrastructure to appeal to additional US holidaymakers, and at the same time, it should make investments a lot more in endorsing its culture in the US.
Humanitarian Cooperation
Bangladesh is the threerd greatest receiver of US overseas assist among the South Asian states. For the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic, the US assisted Bangladesh in mostly reducing the devastating impacts of the pandemic by supplying the latter with extra than 100 million vaccines totally free of expense. Also, the US is the main supplier of humanitarian assistance for the much more than one.3 million Rohingya refugees stranded in southeastern Bangladesh.
Nevertheless, the US possesses the capacity to play a larger job in dealing with the Rohingya humanitarian crisis. About the the latest decades, the infusion of international cash for the Rohingyas has noticeably diminished, and this has placed Bangladesh in a quandary. As the only superpower and the largest financial electrical power of the planet, the US can make enhanced diplomatic and financial contribution to the Rohingya cause. based mostly on the emphasis that the Biden administration has set on human legal rights, the US should really phase up its economic support for the Rohingya refugees. Still, furnishing only humanitarian assist to the Rohingyas is not a viable very long-term answer to this acute dilemma. Consequently, using into thought the ongoing political turmoil within Myanmar, the adoption of the BURMA Act by the US Congress, and the current intensification of the ongoing civil war in the region, the US can exert increased diplomatic force on Nay Pyi Taw to repatriate Rohingya refugees from Bangladesh.
Also, owing to weather transform, Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable nations of the earth. The recent US administration is a social gathering to the Paris Arrangement and vocally fully commited to the decarbonization, local weather transform adaptation, and local climate finance. It has also formerly committed to present Bangladesh with new systems to mitigate the deleterious outcomes of climate transform on the latter. Therefore, the US ought to make fantastic on its commitments by accelerating the system of technological innovation transfer and in accordance economic backing to Bangladesh’s efforts to combat weather modify.
Towards a Cooperative Lustrum
From a functional standpoint, Dhaka and Washington have significant alternatives to develop their partnerships on political, financial, cultural, and humanitarian fronts. Upgrading their present-day extensive ties into a official strategic partnership will be mutually advantageous for them. As a result, Bangladesh and the US should collaborate with every other on expanding their multifaceted partnership in get to make a improved and far more prosperous foreseeable future for the two.
[PicturebytheM[PhotobytheMinistry of International Affairs, Bangladesh]
Md. Himel Rahman is a post-graduate student of Stability Research at the Division of Worldwide Relations, College of Dhaka, Bangladesh, and a freelance analyst on worldwide and strategic affairs. His content articles have been published in The Diplomat, the South Asian Voices, The Geopolitics, The Every day Star, the Dhaka Tribune, The Day by day Observer, and other platforms. The sights and opinions expressed in this write-up are these of the writer.
