US Ambassador to Bangladesh Earl R Miller on Wednesday said Bangladesh is one of the United States’ most valued partners and one of the great development success stories in the world. “I’m proud of what our two countries are achieving together,” he said adding that two-way trade between Bangladesh and the United States totalled $8.2 billion last year, double what it was only a few years ago. The US Ambassador was addressing a reception in the city marking the 243rd US Independence Day that falls on July 4, reports UNB. Agriculture Minister Dr Abdur Razzaque attended the event as the chief guest. Representatives of the government of Bangladesh, diplomats stationed in Dhaka and senior journalists were present. The US envoy said security and military relationship between the two countries has never been stronger. He said the United States is the leading contributor of humanitarian assistance to the Rohingya crisis, providing more than $541 million since August 2017. “The United States salutes the people of Bangladesh for opening their borders and hearts to over one million persecuted Rohingya.” Ambassador Miller said American commercial aircraft now hoist the green and red into skies across the world. “American companies produce more than half of Bangladesh’s natural gas, build power plants, supply locomotives, and train thousands of Bangladeshi workers to the highest international standards.” He said since 1971, USAID has provided more than $7 billion to Bangladesh in development assistance, including $219 million last year, to promote economic opportunity, effective health and education service, food security, and responsiveness to climate change and natural disasters. “In partnership, we provide assistance to improve local governance, address gender-based violence and empower women, and combat human trafficking,” he said. Putting emphasis on people-to-people ties, he said this remains the heart of enduring support for one another. “There’re over 200,000 Bangladeshis in America. Some 7,500 Bangladeshi students study on American college campuses each year.”
Source – Financial Express.
