US Envoy Meets Bangladesh PM, Emphasises Cooperation For Shared Goals

United States Ambassador to India and Special Envoy to South and Central Asia Sergio Gor met Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in Dhaka on Saturday, marking the final day of his three-day visit to the country. The meeting, held at the Prime Minister's Office in Tejgaon, focused on strengthening bilateral relations, with discussions covering trade, investment, regional cooperation and other areas of mutual interest. The visit reflects Washington's continued efforts to deepen engagement with Bangladesh under the BNP-led government.

Following the meeting, Gor said the United States sees significant opportunities to expand its partnership with Bangladesh. In a post on X, he described stronger economic cooperation as a priority for Washington and expressed confidence that closer collaboration could deliver tangible results for both countries. According to the Prime Minister's Office, the talks also included discussions on expanding bilateral trade, attracting investment and enhancing regional cooperation. Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman, State Minister Shama Obaed Islam, Foreign Affairs Adviser Humaiun Kobir and other senior officials attended the meeting.

Earlier in the visit, Gor travelled to Cox's Bazar, home to the world's largest Rohingya refugee settlement, where he reaffirmed the United States' commitment to supporting humanitarian assistance. He highlighted the scale of the refugee crisis, noting that more than one million Rohingya refugees are currently living in camps in the district. The United States remains the largest international donor to the Rohingya humanitarian response, alongside countries such as Japan, Australia and Norway, as well as the European Union.

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The visit also resulted in a significant diplomatic announcement regarding travel between the two countries. After meeting Bangladesh Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman on Thursday, Gor said the US State Department had downgraded its overall travel advisory for Bangladesh from Level 3 to Level 2, citing improved security conditions. While noting that certain areas remain subject to additional restrictions, he described the decision as positive news and said his discussions with Bangladesh's foreign minister had been productive, reflecting growing momentum in bilateral ties.

Sergio Gor is the third senior US official from Washington to visit Bangladesh since the BNP-led government assumed office in February. Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Paul Kapur visited Dhaka in March, followed by Assistant US Trade Representative for South and Central Asia Brendan Lynch in May. On Friday, Gor also met Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi in Dhaka, underscoring increasing diplomatic engagement in South Asia as the United States seeks to strengthen economic, strategic and humanitarian cooperation across the region.

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