US envoy: Bangladesh one of world’s great success stories

[Black_cats]

US envoy: Bangladesh one of world’s great success stories
Nayon Sarkar

• Published at 12:50 am July 4th, 2019

https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangla...ngladesh-one-of-world-s-great-success-stories

U.S. Ambassador to Bangladesh Earl R. Miller Courtesy


Since 1971, USAID has provided more than $7 billion to Bangladesh in development assistance

US Ambassador to Bangladesh Earl R Miller has said Bangladesh is one of the most valued partners of the United States and one of the world's great development success stories.

"I am proud of what our two countries are achieving together," he said adding that two-way trade between Bangladesh and the US totalled $8.2 billion in 2018, double what it was only a few years back, reports UNB.

The US ambassador was addressing a reception in the city on Wednesday marking the 243rd US Independence Day, celebrated every year on July 4.

Agriculture Minister Dr Abdur Razzaque attended the event as the chief guest.

Representatives of Bangladesh government, diplomats stationed in Dhaka, and senior journalists were also present at the event.

Miller said: "Security and military relationship between the two countries is stronger than ever adding that the US is the leading contributor of humanitarian assistance to the Rohingya crisis, providing more than $541 million since August 2017.

"The US salutes the people of Bangladesh for opening their borders and hearts to over one million persecuted Rohingyas."

"American companies produce more than half of Bangladesh's natural gas, build power plants, supply locomotives, and train thousands of Bangladeshi workers to the highest international standards," said the US envoy.

"Since 1971, USAID has provided more than $7 billion to Bangladesh in development assistance, including $219 million in 2018, to promote economic opportunities, effective health, and education service, food security, and responsiveness to climate change and natural disasters.

"In partnership, we provide assistance to improve local governance, address gender-based violence, empower women, and combat human trafficking," he added.

Emphasizing on people-to-people ties, Miller said: "This remains the heart of enduring support for one another."

"There are over 200,000 Bangladeshis in America. Some 7,500 Bangladeshi students study in American college campuses each year," he added.

 

[bluesky]

Since 1971, USAID has provided more than $7 billion to Bangladesh in development assistance

However, many of our BD brats, especially in this forum, may not readily accept this $7 billion with a good heart. For them, it is a matter of pride to remain ingrates. It is our national character.

 

[Black_cats]

However, many of our BD brats, especially in this forum, may not readily accept this $7 billion with a good heart. For them, it is a matter of pride to remain ingrates. It is our national character.

Any kind of assistance is great. But $7 billion came in 48 years which is around 145 million USD a year. In comparison USA has given Egypt 1 billion USD+ assistance, Pakistan also received couple of times more for example.

 

[Bilal9]

Guys - we have to keep in mind we're not playing superpowers against each other, neither are we trying to take advantage of illegal wars by being conduits/middlemen for arms and supplies.

The amount that is given to Egypt each year is just to balance and keep things on an even keel because of assistance given to Israel. I wanted to mention this in passing just to present my views without hijacking the thread.

I have no say-so in why assistance was given to Pakistan and would rather not go into it - these are not the subjects of this thread. You all know very well why.

We have to remember that global arm-twisting (when dealing with major powers like the US) comes with its later paybacks and come-uppances, as plentifully apparent nowadays. We as Bengalis typically are not comfortable at all in this sort of global connivance (our sense of decency and conscience being what it is), which some countries are quite good at. These types of arm twisting to extract 'faida' is just not what we do as a nation.

However the more important point is - we may not have leveraged things well (and have done a fairly sloppy job) with the US (in Washington DC) as far as influencing opinions and lobbying for,

a) Further market access slash tariff advantages, and

b) Geopolitical advantage vis-a-vis India and Pakistan

That is the subject of this thread and that is what we should have discussed, meaning,

a) Where (in peacetime initiatives as a superbly moderate Muslim country) do our (between US and us) mutual interests cross paths, and

b) How (and in what manner) to extract exemplary value from serving each others 'like' interests (like in serving UN initiatives the US supports).

This of course, has to be done without sacrificing our own interests and without angering large countries like India and china.

 

[Arthur]

Any kind of assistance is great. But $7 billion came in 48 years which is around 145 million USD a year. In comparison USA has given Egypt 1 billion USD+ assistance, Pakistan also received couple of times more for example.

Egypt is in a total different context. Assistance provided to Egypt is mostly Military equipments & funding.

While assistance provided to Bangladesh were invested mostly in Education & Healthcare. $ 7 billion in 48 years is not a small amount. And considering the nature of the assistance, we reaped twice the benefit.

And $7 billion is just gov. to gov. We received a lot more in form of NGO funding.

 

[nahtanbob]

Egypt is in a total different context. Assistance provided to Egypt is mostly Military equipments & funding.

While assistance provided to Bangladesh were invested mostly in Education & Healthcare. $ 7 billion in 48 years is not a small amount. And considering the nature of the assistance, we reaped twice the benefit.

And $7 billion is just gov. to gov. We received a lot more in form of NGO funding.

assistance to developing world falls in these categories
direct bilateral aid - economic and military
world bank loans
trade tariff concessions

Egypt is in a whole different league

 

[TopCat]

Egypt is in a total different context. Assistance provided to Egypt is mostly Military equipments & funding.

While assistance provided to Bangladesh were invested mostly in Education & Healthcare. $ 7 billion in 48 years is not a small amount. And considering the nature of the assistance, we reaped twice the benefit.

And $7 billion is just gov. to gov. We received a lot more in form of NGO funding.

Yes he was only talking about USAID. We do resolve huge amount through world bank and ADB

 

[fallstuff]

U.S. AID started out in the early 1950's with an altruistic motive, just to help other nations. That changed over the decades to a point when Hillary Clinton was running State Department she claimed every dollar State Dept was handing out was bringing in $3 in return.