Dhaka: Bangladesh has urged the United States to increase its efforts in resettling more Rohingya refugees, also referred to as displaced Myanmar nationals. The appeal was made by the Home Affairs Advisor, Lieutenant General (Retired) Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, during a meeting with the U.S. Embassy’s Chargé d’Affaires Tracy Ann Jacobson at his office in the Secretariat this afternoon.

During the discussion, the advisor acknowledged the leadership role the United States has played in providing humanitarian assistance and resettlement opportunities for the Rohingya since the onset of the crisis. He emphasized the need for an expanded resettlement program, praising the U.S. for its past initiatives while urging for further commitment.

Responding to the appeal, Jacobson reaffirmed the U.S.’s dedication to aiding Rohingya refugees. She noted that the United States remains the largest donor for the development and resettlement of Rohingya, with its development agency, USAID, working closely with local NGOs to improve the living conditions of refugees in Bangladesh. She highlighted that approximately 17,000 Rohingya refugees have already been resettled in the U.S., with ongoing efforts to continue this process.

The meeting encompassed a range of issues pertinent to both nations, including security collaboration, counterterrorism, capacity building for law enforcement, the activities of the Police Reform Commission, border management, minority issues, and agricultural cooperation. Discussions also extended to regional concerns and shared interests.

At the outset, the advisor warmly welcomed Jacobson, reiterating the importance of the U.S. as one of Bangladesh’s principal development partners. He emphasized the positive impact of U.S. support in areas such as counterterrorism, security, and capacity building for law enforcement agencies. The advisor also called for enhanced training in human rights for police forces and expanded anti-trafficking training programs for the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and the Coast Guard.

Jacobson assured Bangladesh of the U.S.’s growing support across multiple sectors, citing a 30% increase in U.S. approvals for Bangladeshi students seeking higher education opportunities in America. She also highlighted plans to provide additional training to Bangladeshi law enforcement officials, stressing the importance of ensuring that officers utilize their training effectively upon returning to their respective roles.

The Chargé d’Affaires underscored the close cooperation between the two nations in combating terrorism and ensuring security. She emphasized the importance of exchanging information and updating databases related to counterterrorism to maintain efficacy in joint efforts.

Regarding border management, Jacobson inquired about the current situation. In response, the advisor described the situation as relatively stable and mentioned the upcoming director-general-level meeting between the BGB and the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) in New Delhi next month.

Addressing concerns about minority issues, Jacobson sought clarification on allegations of persecution. The advisor dismissed such allegations as unfounded, attributing them to misinformation propagated by Indian media. He clarified that there is no systemic persecution of minorities in Bangladesh, as all citizens are treated equally with the same rights. Referring to a few isolated incidents following August 5, he stressed that these were politically motivated rather than religiously driven.

The meeting also included the participation of senior officials from both sides. U.S. Embassy representatives present were Resident Legal Advisor Rahul Kale, Law Enforcement Attaché Michelle W. Hintz, Political-Military Affairs Officer Josh Pope, and Assistant Regional Security Officer Stephen Kovacs. From Bangladesh, senior officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs were in attendance.