Bangladesh-US ties to reach new height under Biden administration: Momen

Foreign minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Sunday hoped that the Bangladesh-US relations will reach a new height under the new Biden administration.

“The developmental vision of Honourable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the welfare view of the new administration in the US closely matches lockstep,” he said.

Dr Momen said the new US administration has already marked such indications as it rejoined the Paris Agreement and also started exploring whether genocide took place in Myanmar.

“We welcome the new administrative and thank them for their initiatives,” he said.

The foreign minister was addressing the virtual ‘Frontline Journalism Award Presentation Ceremony’ as chief guest organized by The American Chamber of Commerce in Bangladesh (AmCham). US ambassador to Bangladesh Earl R Miller spoke as the special guest.

Momen urged AmCham to play substantial role for boosting Bangladesh’s export to the USA and attract Foreign Direct Investment and incubation of technology.

He said Bangladesh hopes to promote “Culture of Peace,” creating a mindset of respect and tolerance towards others irrespective of religion, ethnicity, race and colour for a sustainable world of peace and stability across nations.

“We don’t want to see any more the movement like ‘Black life Matters’ or uprooting of 1.1 million Rohingyas due to spread of venom of hatred and intolerance,” he said.

During the coronavirus pandemic, the foreign minister said journalists played a noteworthy role in raising awareness about the vicious effects of the deadly virus.

“I am happy that the journalists disseminated every directive and initiative of the government to the people,” he said.

He urged the media to highlight the remarkable works of the government and create a narrative so that “we all could be proud of. We are no longer a bottomless basket but a land of opportunity, a vibrant economy”.

He said everyone will agree that in the last 12 years, Bangladesh achieved tremendous success in its efforts to develop its economy and to provide improved living standard to its people.