Bangladesh’s Future Lies with Its People: US

Reaffirming its support for democratic processes, the United States has underscored the importance of elections and the role of the people in shaping Bangladesh's future.

“Elections matter. I don’t want to sound trite, but it’s true—democracy matters. And people’s actions matter when it comes to addressing challenges,” said US State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce during a regular press briefing in Washington, D.C. on April 15.

Bruce made the remarks in response to a Bangladesh-related question, referencing media reports including an article published by The New York Times.

“The future of Bangladesh will ultimately be determined by the Bangladeshi people,” she said, acknowledging the reports and emphasizing that internal matters are for Bangladeshi authorities to handle. “That said, continued dialogue is critical,” Bruce added.

The US continues to engage with Bangladesh on key bilateral issues. US Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs (SCA), Nicole Ann Chulick, is currently visiting Dhaka. On Tuesday, she thanked Bangladesh for its “prompt and constructive” response to US trade initiatives.

Chulick and her delegation were welcomed by Special Envoy to the Chief Adviser on International Affairs, Lutfey Siddiqi, who noted that he would be traveling to Washington, D.C. next week for further discussions with officials from the USTR, Commerce, and State Department.

Meanwhile, Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Andrew R. Herrup, is also expected to visit Bangladesh this week.

Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain told reporters that the upcoming meetings would cover all aspects of the US-Bangladesh relationship.

As diplomatic engagements continue, domestic political developments are also unfolding. A seven-member BNP delegation led by party Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir met with Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus on Wednesday. The opposition party is urging for a defined roadmap to hold national elections by December.

The meeting took place at the state guest house, Jamuna, beginning at 12:10 p.m.

Meanwhile, China has reiterated its commitment to strengthening ties with Bangladesh. Chinese Ambassador Yao Wen recently stated that Beijing is ready to work closely with Dhaka to translate shared understandings into tangible outcomes.