Special Correspondent
Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister, Dr. Khalilur Rahman, has said that bilateral relations between Bangladesh and the United States are currently on a very positive trajectory, adding that both countries will work to further strengthen and deepen their partnership in the coming days.
He made the remarks while speaking to reporters on Thursday night following a meeting with Sergio Gor, the United States Special Envoy for South and Central Asia. Prime Minister’s foreign affairs adviser, Humayun Kabir was also present.
The Foreign Minister described the meeting as highly productive, saying the two sides held constructive discussions on ways to further advance the already strong bilateral relationship between Bangladesh and the United States.
He noted that he had met Sergio Gor in Manila last week and also held talks with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio during the same visit.
“Our relationship is now moving in a very positive direction, and we will continue working to make it stronger and deeper in the days ahead,” he said.
Responding to a question about what the United States wanted to know regarding Bangladesh, Dr. Rahman said that discussions covered nearly all major aspects of bilateral relations, including trade, investment, energy and migration. However, as the meeting was relatively brief, the focus remained on the overall direction of future cooperation rather than detailed discussions on specific issues.
On the issue of Boeing aircraft purchases, the Foreign Minister said Bangladesh is acquiring Boeing aircraft not only through the state-owned Biman Bangladesh Airlines but also through private-sector operators. He described this as a positive example of growing economic cooperation between the two countries.
Addressing the Rohingya crisis, he said that more than half of the humanitarian assistance Bangladesh receives from the international community for the Rohingya population comes from the United States. He expressed hope that Washington would continue its support in the future. However, he clarified that the meeting did not include discussions on exerting pressure on Myanmar or any specific strategy related to the crisis. He added that Bangladesh expects continued support from the United States and other international partners for its multilateral diplomatic efforts to resolve the Rohingya issue.
Speaking about overall Bangladesh-U.S. relations, the Foreign Minister said the current government has maintained regular engagement with the United States at all levels since assuming office. He stressed that the relationship is not defined by a single meeting but by sustained diplomatic engagement. According to him, the continuity established during the interim government has been maintained by the present administration. He also noted that political issues such as the Awami League, inclusive democracy and the humanitarian corridor were not discussed during the meeting.
Commenting on the United States’ new tariff regime, Dr. Rahman said there has been considerable confusion surrounding the issue. He explained that although Bangladeshi products were initially subjected to a 19 percent tariff, the situation changed following a ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court on the relevant legal matter. Subsequently, after an investigation conducted under U.S. trade law, the tariff for Bangladesh was set at 10 percent. While many countries are facing tariffs of 12 or 12.5 percent, Bangladesh has been assigned a 10 percent rate.
More importantly, he said, the United States has introduced a Tariff Quota System for Bangladesh. Under this arrangement, garments manufactured in Bangladesh using U.S. cotton or U.S.-produced man-made fibres will enjoy more favourable access to the U.S. market. Similar benefits have also been extended to Indonesia, Malaysia and another ASEAN country.
Responding to questions on human rights and U.S. sanctions on the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), the Foreign Minister said the current government remains firmly committed to protecting human rights. He noted that Bangladesh and the United States regularly engage in discussions on the issue. However, he clarified that the withdrawal of sanctions on RAB or any specific matter related to the sanctions was not discussed during the meeting, describing it as an ongoing diplomatic process.
The Foreign Minister also announced that he will assume office as President of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on September 8. Preparations and issues related to his upcoming responsibilities were also discussed with Sergio Gor.
He noted that the United States played a historic role in the establishment of the United Nations, making regular communication and consultations with Washington both natural and necessary during his tenure as President of the General Assembly.
Replying to a question on emerging technologies and artificial intelligence (AI), Dr. Rahman said the world is gradually moving toward a new technological reality, with various technology-driven cooperation frameworks taking shape. He observed that artificial intelligence is expected to become one of the key foundations of future global civilization. However, he cautioned that the field is still evolving, with many countries, particularly the United States, continuing to assess new initiatives. Therefore, he said, it is still too early to comment on any definitive global position regarding AI.
