President Calls for Simpler US Visa Bond Process for Bangladeshis

Bangla Press Desk:  President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has urged the United States to review and simplify the existing visa bond system for Bangladeshi businesspeople and real tourists travelling to the country.

The President made the call during a courtesy meeting with US Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent T Christensen at Bangabhaban on Wednesday (2 September) morning.During the meeting, President Mirza Fakhrul recalled past US investment and cooperation in developing Bangladesh's agricultural sector, including support for the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute and the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute.

He called for greater American investment and cooperation in the sector.

The President also highlighted the investment and significant role of US energy company Chevron in the development of Bangladesh's energy sector and urged increased American investment in the field.

He said Bangladesh offered significant potential in a range of sectors, including information technology, infrastructure, healthcare and high-technology industries.

He also stressed the importance of technology transfer and skills development across different sectors.

The President sought continued US support to ensure the safe, dignified and sustainable repatriation of Rohingyas to their homeland. The US envoy assured him of continued cooperation and stressed the importance of strengthening support from ASEAN countries in addressing the crisis.

During the meeting, Ambassador Christensen congratulated Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and extended his best wishes on his assumption of office as President of Bangladesh.

Extending thanks to the US ambassador, President Mirza Fakhrul described the United States as one of Bangladesh's most important development and trading partners.

He said the existing commercial relationship between the two countries was playing an important role in Bangladesh's economic development.The President said Bangladesh believed in maintaining friendly relations with all countries and expanding bilateral and multilateral cooperation.

He added that Bangladesh placed the highest importance on the principles of independence, sovereignty, national interest, mutual respect and equality in its international relations.

He expressed hope that bilateral relations with the United States would continue to expand in the future on the basis of mutual respect and the protection of shared interests.

Referring to the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade concluded between Bangladesh and the United States, the President described it as an important step forward in expanding commercial ties between the two countries.

However, he said there remained scope to make the agreement more balanced and mutually beneficial by taking into account the economic realities and interests of both countries.

Ambassador Christensen, meanwhile, reiterated his country's interest in further deepening and diversifying its relationship with Bangladesh.

Secretaries to the President and senior officials were also present at the meeting.