Ambassador Miller: Dhaka-Washington ties to get more robust under Biden administration

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Joint efforts ought to be designed to put pressure in Myanmar over Rohingya circumstances, says US envoy

US Ambassador to Bangladesh Earl R Miller has said the Bangladesh-US relations is only going to get stronger without major changes beneath the new Biden administration.

“I think the relationship between your US and Bangladesh will only grow from durability to strength. I don’t see any main changes at this time,” he told UNB within an interview.

US President-elect Joe Biden and his team are now ready to take business office on January 20, 2021.

Ambassador Miller, on the other hand, said they will have to see what the new administration’s policies are actually and mentioned that lots of of the people who will come to be moving to cabinet positions are quite recognized to him. “Most of them have legitimate concentrate on the Indo-Pacific region, specifically in South Asia.”

Asked whether President-elect Joe Biden will need forwards the Indo Pacific Strategy (IPS), the US envoy who also served as a US Marine Corps officer explained, “I think so. No matter what it really is called, how it really is rebranded, the concentration of america will still be very solid in this region.”

Outgoing US President Donald J Trump built US engagement in the Indo-Pacific region a high priority of his administration. In November 2017, in Vietnam, he outlined a perspective for a free and open Indo-Pacific where all countries prosper side by side as sovereign, independent states.

Free of charge, fair, and reciprocal trade, open investment environments, very good governance, and independence of the seas are goals shared by all who wish to prosper on a free of charge and open future.
 
Ambassador Miller said he does not necessarily find IPS while something countering the Belt and Road initiative (BRI). “IPS is merely US’ philosophy that the region should be governed by the principles of very good governance and independence of the seas.”

The envoy, also the recipient of several US government honours, like the Section of State’s Award for Heroism, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Shield of Bravery, said Indo-Pacific countries can certainly reap the benefits of trillions of us dollars of investment as there is untapped potential and that is why the investors can look towards countries like Bangladesh.

'Put pressure on Myanmar'

Ambassador Miller said joint attempts ought to be there to continue to place pressure on Myanmar to produce the situations on the floor so that all of the Rohingyas can go back to their homeland found in a “safe and sound, dignified and voluntary” approach and which has to begin soon.

Bangladesh offers said Rohingyas can "jeopardize regional and international secureness" if the 1.1 million Rohingya persons are left unattended and not given the opportunity to go back to their homeland.

Bangladesh, Myanmar and China will carry a tripartite meeting in Rohingya repatriation found in Dhaka on January 19 due to Dhaka finds the repatriation of Rohingyas to Myanmar while the just solution to the crisis.

Giving an answer to a question in the tripartite system, the US ambassador said any country may do it to greatly help solve this crisis in fact it is useful.

“The pressure must be on Myanmar. It’s certainly not fair for Bangladesh to shoulder this tremendous burden. There are various donors in the international network who've stepped up. We would like to see others sign up for us,” he explained, adding that the US wish to see various other countries become more vocal in assisting Bangladesh and Rohingyas on the worldwide stage incorporating in Geneva and at the US. 

The US is the top rated contributor of humanitarian assistance in response to the Rakhine Condition crisis, providing practically $1.2 billion because the escalation of violence in August 2017, which practically $962 million is for programs inside Bangladesh; these applications provide support to sponsor communities, along with Rohingya refugees.

“We’ll continue to be a stronger spouse and supporter of Bangladesh [while working with the Rohingya crisis],” said the US ambassador, adding that they have enormous admiration for Bangladesh which place an example for the community by opening its hearts and borders to the persecuted community. 

The US ambassador said they will work very carefully with Bangladeshi friends to keep to fortify the ties between Bangladesh and the US. “It’ll continue under the Biden administration.”

He described the then US Senator Edward M Kennedy who delivered a good speech at Dhaka University in February 14, 1972 highlighting people-to-persons relations when he had visited the war-torn Bangladesh.

“The true foreign policy of America is citizen to citizen, friend to friend, people to people, foreign bonds of brotherhood that no tyranny can diminish,” Ambassador Miller quoted Senator Kennedy as saying.

The ambassador said this season is indeed ripe with possibilities and opportunities for all as Bangladesh is celebrating the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and can celebrate 50 years of independence of the remarkable country.

Ambassador Miller said they are considering what is the best way for the US to applaud the remarkable journey of this country during the last five decades. “We've lots of ideas.”

He laid emphasis on continuing to activate with the young persons and mentioned that this would be among the great prospects they have in this 12 months of commemoration and celebrations.

He said he hasn't seen so much strength in any nation and enthusiasm for future years by the young students he finds within Bangladesh.

“Bangladeshi students are complete superstars on American campuses plus they really excel on all areas of experience found in the US. I inform them and I mean that from the bottom of my center,” Ambassador Miller said.

Growing need for Bangladesh

He said the world is becoming more and more aware of the value of a country want Bangladesh, not just for its geopolitical importance or perhaps location, but also for the opportunities it includes here, to come here and talk to the young Bangladeshis. “It’s amazing to see what’s taking place in Bangladesh today and what will happen later on.”

The US has provided $68.7 million to Bangladesh for Covid-19 management since the outbreak.

Bangladesh will celebrate 50 years of independence in March this year as the US looks forwards to celebrating 50 years of Bangladesh-US diplomatic relations in 2022.

Over almost five years, america and Bangladesh have expanded cooperation predicated on people-to-people ties and friendship grounded in mutual respect. 

In security, development, trade, healthcare, education, and energy, Bangladesh and the US interact with a shared commitment to peace, prosperity, and a free of charge, open and safe and sound Indo-Pacific region.

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