Trump administration wants to see good relations between Bangladesh and India: US Ambassador to Dhaka

The US Trump administration wants to see good relations between Bangladesh and India, said Brent Christensen, the US Ambassador to Dhaka. Ambassador Christensen said this in an interview with British media outlet Reuters on Tuesday (February 11).

In August 2024, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is close to India, was ousted in a mass uprising led by Gen-Zi. She later took refuge in New Delhi. Since then, India's influence in Bangladesh has been declining. And China has taken advantage of that opportunity to increase its influence. After Sheikh Hasina left the country, relations between New Delhi and Dhaka have deteriorated. This has also affected visa services and cricket between the two countries.

Christensen also said, "The administration of US President Donald Trump wants good relations between Bangladesh and India. He said, good relations between the two countries are essential for regional stability.

On trade diplomacy, Brent Christensen said, “Many US businesses are exploring the possibility of investing in Bangladesh. However, they want the next government to clearly state from the outset that the country is business-friendly.”

He said, “Trade diplomacy is one of our top priorities. We are interested in working with the new government to build on the progress made with the interim government. We want to work especially to strengthen trade, economic and security cooperation.”

The ambassador said, “The United States will work with whichever government the people of Bangladesh elect. The main fight in the election is between two alliances. One is led by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). The other is the Islamist party Jamaat-e-Islami. Opinion polls show that the BNP is ahead.”