US reaffirms confidence in Tarique 

Bangladesh and the United States are set to elevate their bilateral relationship following high-level talks between Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and US Special Presidential Envoy for South and Central Asia Sergio Gor on Saturday.

Sergio Gor paid a courtesy call on the prime minister at the Prime Minister's Office in Tejgaon, where the two sides held discussions on investment, trade, technology, public health, the Rohingya crisis and broader strategic cooperation.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, Prime Minister's Adviser and PMO Spokesperson Mahdi Amin said Washington expressed confidence in Tarique Rahman's leadership, noting that political stability has returned to Bangladesh and the country is advancing on its democratic path. He added that the US delegation praised several policy initiatives undertaken by the government over the past five months.

One of the key outcomes of the meeting was the announcement that 45 senior executives from around 25 leading US companies will visit Bangladesh later next week. The delegation will meet officials from different ministries and government agencies and is also expected to hold talks with the prime minister.

Gor meets PM, says 45 top US executives to visit Dhaka next week 

The government believes the visit will create fresh opportunities for American investment, expand bilateral trade, generate employment and strengthen long-term economic partnerships.

Inviting greater US investment, the prime minister highlighted opportunities in warehousing and storage facilities for soybeans, cotton, wheat and other agricultural commodities to strengthen Bangladesh's supply chain and competitiveness. He also underscored the country's ambition to become a major destination for information technology investment.

Responding positively, Sergio Gor said Bangladesh has significant potential in the technology sector and could eventually become a partner in the PAX Silica initiative.

Mahdi Amin also said the United States has upgraded its travel advisory for Bangladesh from Level 3 to Level 2, describing the move as a positive signal to international investors, businesses and tourists that the country is becoming increasingly stable, secure and investment-friendly.

The Rohingya crisis also featured prominently during the discussions. Referring to his visit to the refugee camps in Cox's Bazar on Friday, Sergio Gor commended Bangladesh for continuing to provide shelter and humanitarian assistance to displaced Myanmar nationals.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman thanked the United States for its longstanding support, noting that more than half of the international humanitarian assistance for the Rohingya response comes from Washington. The US envoy reaffirmed his country's commitment to pursuing a sustainable political solution to the protracted crisis.

The two sides also discussed expanding cooperation in public health and trade and agreed to work towards resuming testing activities in Bangladesh in collaboration with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The meeting was attended by Foreign Affairs Adviser Dr Khalilur Rahman, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam, Prime Minister's advisers Humaiun Kobir, Rehan Asif Asad and Mahdi Amin, Bangladesh Ambassador to Washington Tarek Md Ariful Islam, U.S. Ambassador Brent Christensen and other senior officials.

Later in the day, the prime minister met representatives of Bangladesh's business community to discuss improving the investment climate, industrialisation, employment and economic growth. According to Mahdi Amin, the discussions focused on addressing electricity and gas shortages, strengthening energy security, reforming the tax system, introducing investment-friendly policies and removing bottlenecks affecting investment in BSCIC, BEZA, BEPZA and economic zones. Business leaders welcomed the government's initiatives and presented their concerns, while the prime minister assured them that the administration remained committed to building a transparent, stable and business-friendly environment to accelerate industrial growth, create jobs and advance its development agenda under the slogan, "Work for the Nation, Build the Country, Bangladesh First."