AZM Sajjad Hossain, Washington DC : Foreign Minister Dr A K Abdul Momen spent another busy day yesterday (5 April 2022) in his official visit to Washington DC, as he met a 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, and Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen.
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 extradition of Rashed Chowdhury, the self-confessed killer of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and sought the Senate Majority Leader’s assistance in this regard.
The Bangladesh Foreign Minister also called for increased trade and investment of the US in Bangladesh and proposed the 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 He also expressed Bangladesh’s expectations that the sanctions on RAB would be withdrawn soon.
The 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 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 the US government to lift sanctions on RAB and related individuals.
Foreign Minister Momen also joined 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.
Pointing out the importance of the US-Bangladesh relationship, Foreign Minister Momen noted that there are key areas of growth where US companies can support Bangladesh. The areas include telecom infrastructure, digital economy, pharmaceuticals, blue economy, information and communication technology, financial technology, and digital payments, he said.
He highlighted that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has allocated a special economic zone for American companies and welcomed their investment to Bangladesh. The Bangladesh Foreign Minister was accompanied by a high-level business delegation from Bangladesh.
The Bangladesh Foreign Minister joined a dinner at "Bangladesh House" hosted by Bangladesh Ambassador to the USA M. Shahidul Islam. The government representatives and civil society members from both the US and Bangladesh, and the members of Bangladeshi Diaspora attended the dinner.
Foreign Minister Momen is scheduled to leave Washington DC today for Miami, Florida, where he would inaugurate the new Consulate General of Bangladesh.