Dhaka: The United States has reiterated its firm support for the ongoing reform initiatives led by the interim government of Bangladesh under the leadership of Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus during the celebration of U.S. Independence Day in Dhaka this evening.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, U.S. Charg© d’Affaires Tracey Ann Jacobson paid tribute to the courage and sacrifice of those involved in the student-led popular uprising of July-August last year, describing it as a foundation for the historic work being witnessed now to rebuild the state and restore democracy. Jacobson emphasized that the United States honors the sacrifices of those who gave their lives last year and fully supports the efforts of the Chief Adviser to build consensus around reform and pave the way for free and fair elections early next year.
She mentioned that this commitment was reaffirmed in a recent telephone conversation between the U.S. Secretary of State and the Chief Adviser of Bangladesh. Finance, and Science and Technology Adviser to the interim government, Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed, attended the ceremony as the guest of honor. The event also saw the presence of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, other advisers, diplomats, senior officials, and distinguished guests.
Jacobson highlighted over five decades of Bangladesh-U.S. partnership, praising the deep people-to-people ties and growing commercial, military, and development cooperation between the two nations. She emphasized that the partnership is strong, built on shared values and mutual interests, and detailed the breadth of U.S. assistance to Bangladesh. Since 2017, the U.S. has been the largest donor to the Rohingya refugee response, contributing over $2.5 billion, including $160 million this year alone.
As USAID prepares to transition its remaining assistance programs to the U.S. Department of State, Jacobson acknowledged the agency’s long-standing contributions. She noted that USAID’s investments, totaling over $8 billion, have played a vital role in helping Bangladesh prepare for graduation from Least Developed Country status.
On economic cooperation, the Charg© d’Affaires pointed out that American companies are significant contributors to Bangladesh’s economy and infrastructure. Chevron, the country’s largest foreign investor, along with Excelerate Energy, provides more than 70% of Bangladesh’s electricity. Other American firms like Oracle, Microsoft, Meta, and Google are instrumental in driving Bangladesh’s digital transformation.
She confirmed that both governments are actively working to address bilateral trade issues, including discussions on tariff reductions, trade barriers, and labor standards in line with international norms. The U.S. envoy also underscored the importance of military cooperation, noting joint exercises such as Tiger Lightning and Pacific Angel, and the annual training of around 120 Bangladeshi military officers at prestigious U.S. military institutions including West Point and the U.S. Naval Academy.
The event, themed around a traditional American ‘State Fair’, celebrated cultural connections and agricultural heritage, with American cotton and Bangladeshi garment excellence symbolically represented through denim outfits worn by attendees.