President calls for easing visa bond rules for Bangladeshis travelling to US

President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has called for a review and simplification of the existing “visa bond” requirement for Bangladeshi businesspeople and genuine tourists travelling to the United States.

US Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent T. Christensen paid a courtesy call on the President at Bangabhaban on Wednesday (September 2) morning, during which the President made the request.

During the meeting, the President recalled past US investment and cooperation in the development of Bangladesh’s agricultural sector, including support for the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute and the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute. He stressed the need for increased US investment and cooperation in agriculture.

The President also highlighted the investment and significant role of US energy company Chevron in developing Bangladesh’s energy sector and called for greater US investment in the country’s energy industry.

He said Bangladesh has significant potential in areas including information technology, infrastructure, healthcare and high-tech industries. He emphasised the importance of technology and skills transfer in these sectors.

The President sought continued US support to ensure the safe, dignified and sustainable repatriation of the Rohingyas to their homeland. In response, the US ambassador assured him of continued cooperation and stressed the importance of strengthening cooperation with ASEAN member states.

During the meeting, the US ambassador congratulated and extended his best wishes to Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on assuming office as President.

Thanking the ambassador, the President said the United States is one of Bangladesh’s key development and trading partners. The existing trade relationship between the two countries is playing an important role in Bangladesh’s economic development, he said.

The President said Bangladesh believes in maintaining friendly relations with all countries and expanding bilateral and multilateral cooperation. He added that Bangladesh attaches the highest importance to the principles of independence, sovereignty, national interests, mutual respect and equality in international relations.

He expressed hope that bilateral ties with the United States would be further expanded in the future through mutual respect and the protection of shared interests.

The President also raised the issue of the reciprocal trade agreement signed between Bangladesh and the United States. He described it as an important step forward in expanding trade relations between the two countries. However, he said there was scope to make the agreement more balanced and mutually beneficial by taking into account the economic realities and interests of both countries.

The US ambassador reaffirmed his country’s interest in deepening and broadening its relations with Bangladesh.

The President’s secretary and senior officials were also present at the meeting.