Dhaka:The United States has announced an increase in financial assistance for the Rohingya refugees residing in Bangladesh, reinforcing its commitment to humanitarian support for the displaced Myanmar nationals.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Eric Geelan, Charge d'Affaires ad interim at the US embassy, conveyed this decision during a meeting with State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The state minister expressed gratitude to the US government for its decision to enhance assistance for the Rohingyas. This announcement comes as Bangladesh seeks sustained international support to address the ongoing Rohingya crisis and meet the increasing humanitarian needs.
The meeting also covered a variety of bilateral issues, including efforts to combat human trafficking, energy cooperation focusing on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and expanding educational opportunities through the Fulbright program. Discussions included the US State Department's Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report and potential areas for collaboration in tackling human trafficking.
Geelan requested Bangladesh's support for US candidacies in forthcoming United Nations elections and its affiliated bodies. Shama Obaed assured the US of Bangladesh's consideration of these requests.
Additionally, Geelan inquired about the outcomes of a recent high-level Bangladeshi delegation visit to Silicon Valley. The state minister described the visit as successful, highlighting meetings with major technology companies and executives, which opened avenues for enhancing Bangladesh-US cooperation in emerging technologies.