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Published : 18 Mar 2025, 11:46 PM
Foreign Advisor Touhid Hossain has urged US Senator Gary Peters to help counter “false and misleading information” being spread about Bangladesh at home and abroad.
He made the call during a courtesy meeting with the Michigan senator at the State Guest House Padma on Tuesday evening.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs later hosted an Iftar followed by dinner in honour of the senator.
In a statement after the meeting, the foreign ministry said: “The foreign advisor said certain groups are spreading false and misleading information about Bangladesh both at home and abroad.
“He urged the senator to highlight the true picture of Bangladesh to counter such misinformation. The senator took note of it,” it said.
Gary Peters’ visit to Bangladesh comes at a time when remarks by US national intelligence chief Tulsi Gabbard during her recent India tour have sparked significant debate.
In an interview with Indian media outlet NDTV on Monday, Gabbard said: “The long-standing unfortunate persecution, killings, and oppression of Hindus, Buddhists, Christians, and other religious minorities in Bangladesh are a major concern for the US government and for Donald Trump and his administration.”
During the discussion on Bangladesh, the issue of “Islamic caliphate” also came up.
Gabbard said, “The threat posed by radical Islamists and terrorist groups all stem from the same ideology and purpose: the establishment of an Islamic caliphate.
“It is clear that they inevitably target followers of all religions except those they deem ‘acceptable’, and they seek to impose their ideology through terror and violence,” she added.
The Chief Advisor’s Office expressed “deep concern and disappointment” over these remarks, saying that they were “not based on evidence”.
In a statement on Monday night, the CAO said: “There is no evidence or specific allegation behind the US intelligence chief’s remarks. Her statement has unfairly painted an entire nation with a broad brush.”
“Like many countries around the world, Bangladesh also faces challenges from extremism. However, through law enforcement, social reforms, and counter-terrorism measures, and in partnership with the international community, including the US, Bangladesh has been working consistently to address these issues,” the CAO statement read.
Condemning attempts to link Bangladesh to the idea of an “Islamic caliphate”, it added: “Political leaders should base their comments on facts and realities to avoid spreading misconceptions, fear, and communal tensions.”
The meeting between the foreign advisor and the US senator on the following day was also attended by Tracey Ann Jacobson, Chargé d'affaires, ad interim, at the US Embassy in Dhaka, senior diplomats from the embassy, and officials from the foreign ministry.
The foreign ministry said the discussions covered bilateral issues, including trade, investment, development cooperation, people-to-people ties, cybersecurity, and climate resilience.
The foreign advisor told Senator Gary about the reform initiatives undertaken by Muhammad Yunus-led interim government and the preparations for holding free, fair, and participatory elections.
“The senator appreciated the ongoing initiatives and reiterated the United States’ continued support for Bangladesh’s democratic transition,” the ministry said.
The advisor also briefed the senator on the significant challenges Bangladesh faces in hosting Rohingya refugees and underscored the urgent need for their repatriation to Myanmar.
He sought US support in this regard and invited the US to partner with Bangladesh at an upcoming international conference on Rohingya in New York later this year.
Senator Gary highly praised Bangladesh’s generous humanitarian efforts and pledged US support for Rohingya repatriation.
He also acknowledged the contributions of the Bangladeshi community in his home state of Michigan and across the US.
He emphasised the need to deepen cooperation in addressing shared challenges, including climate change.
The meeting concluded with a commitment to further strengthening the US-Bangladesh partnership and exploring new avenues of collaboration, the foreign ministry said.
