NewYork Bangla, desk
Foreign Minister Dr A K Abdul Momen MP spent another busy day yesterday 05 April 2022 in his official visit to Washington DC, as he met couple of US lawmakers and spoke in a number of think tanks in Washington DC. He is accompanied by, among others, Parliament Members Mahbubul Alam Hanif and Nahim Razzaq, Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen and Secretary Shabbir Ahmed Chowdhury.
In the morning, Foreign Minister Momen met Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY), the Majority Leader of the US Senate. During the meeting, he raised the issue of the return of the Rashed Chowdhury, the self-convicted killer of the Father of the Nation, an sought for the Senate Majority Leader’s assistance in this regard. Bangladesh Foreign Minister also called for increased trade and investment of the US in Bangladesh. He also proposed Senator to revitalize the Bangladesh caucus.
Foreign Minister Momen also met Congressman Steve Chabot (R-OH), member of House Foreign Affairs Committee, during which similar discussion took place. He also expressed Bangladesh’s expectations that the sanctions on RAB would be withdrawn soon.
Bangladesh Foreign Minister also attended few events organized by Washington DC based think tanks. This includes United Stated Institute of Peace (USIP), Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), and National Bureau of Asian Research (NBR). During his deliberations, he highlighted the impressive socio-economic progress Bangladesh has made under the visionary leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and expressed optimism that US-Bangladesh economic and political relations would further flourish in next 50 years. He also elaborated Bangladesh’s efforts to promote and protect human rights and democratic principles, and urged to the US Government to lift sanctions on RAB and related individuals.
Foreign Minister Momen also attended a meeting with U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s US-Bangladesh Business Council, on business cooperation The business meeting was joined by over 20 US company executives engaged in commercial, trade and investment with Bangladesh. The discussion centered around the growing economic relationship between the two countries, that will set the foundation for the next 50 years of the bilateral relationship as Bangladesh transitions from an “aid-dependent” economy to an “investment-driven” economy. In noting the importance of the U.S.-Bangladesh relationship, Foreign Minister Momen noted that there are key areas of growth where US companies can support Bangladesh, like telecom infrastructure, digital economy, pharmaceuticals, blue economy, information and communication technology, financial technology, and digital payments He highlighted that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has allocated one special economic zone for American companies and welcome their investment into Bangladesh. Bangladesh Foreign Minister was accompanied by a high-level business delegation from Bangladesh.
Bangladesh Foreign Minister, in the evening, attended a dinner in Bangladesh House hosted by Bangladesh Ambassador to the US M Shahidul Islam, which also attended by a government representatives and civil society members from both the US and Bangladesh, and also from Diaspora community. Foreign Minister Momen is scheduled to leave Washington DC today for Miami, Florida, where he would inaugurate the new Consulate General of Bangladesh.
