U.S. Relations With Bangladesh
More information about Bangladesh is available on the Bangladesh Page, U.S. Department of State publications, and other sources listed at the end of this fact sheet.
U.S.-BANGLADESH RELATIONS
The United States and Bangladesh share a vision for an inclusive, secure, and prosperous future. Our annual U.S.-Bangladesh Partnership Dialogue helps advance shared bilateral, regional, and global objectives and gives strategic direction to ongoing and future cooperative activities. The fourth U.S.-Bangladesh Partnership Dialogue meeting, held in Dhaka on April 30-May 1, 2015, covered a wide variety of topics: democracy and governance, trade and investment, and security cooperation. The delegations worked to deepen cooperation on bilateral, regional and international priorities, including sustainable development, counterterrorism, migration, and climate change. The fifth annual meeting will take place in Washington, DC, in 2016.
Bangladesh has made significant progress toward a more prosperous and pluralistic society since its independence in 1971. Bangladesh’s economy has grown at 6 percent annually for more than two decades. Since the tragic collapse of the Rana Plaza apparel factory in 2013, Bangladesh has made progress in transforming its garment sector. The United States remains actively engaged in efforts to strengthen respect for labor rights and improve workplace safety. Despite significant development achievements, poverty remains a challenge as do infrastructure shortcomings, weak governance structures, and the need for greater investment in human capital. Bangladesh’s high population density compounds these challenges. Extremist violence also presents a common challenge. The United States stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Bangladesh in our effort to defeat extremism.
U.S. Assistance to Bangladesh
The United States has invested billions of dollars to improve the lives of Bangladeshis and Bangladesh is the largest recipient of U.S. assistance in Asia outside of Afghanistan and Pakistan. U.S. assistance fosters engagement with the Government of Bangladesh – helping to grow more food, build more roads, and train more skilled teachers, health care providers, and soldiers. The United States continues to build upon previous gains to reduce poverty, enhance food security, improve health and education, mitigate the impact of climate change and natural disasters, counter violent extremism, and achieve better governance to spur equitable and sustainable growth.
Bilateral Economic Relations
The United States is Bangladesh’s largest export market. Our countries have signed a bilateral investment treaty, as well as a bilateral treaty for the avoidance of double taxation. In 2014, U.S. direct investment in Bangladesh was $465 million, an increase of 12.6 percent from 2013. Our governments held the second annual Trade and Investment Cooperation Forum Agreement (TICFA) meeting in Washington on November 23, 2015, which highlighted the potential for greater cooperation with Bangladesh, particularly in areas of developing infrastructure and energy resources.
In 2014, the United States exported approximately $1.1 billion in U.S. goods to Bangladesh and imported approximately $5.3 billion worth of goods from Bangladesh. U.S. exports to Bangladesh include agricultural products (soybeans, cotton, wheat, dairy), aircraft, machinery, engines, and iron and steel products. U.S. imports from Bangladesh include apparel, footwear, and textile products; toys, games and sporting goods; shrimp and prawns; and agricultural products.
Worker rights and worker safety issues led the United States to suspend the country’s Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) trade benefits in June 2013. At the time of the suspension, the United States provided the Bangladesh government with an Action Plan to address worker rights and safety issues as a basis for considering the reinstatement of GSP trade benefits. Since that time Bangladesh has made important progress in meeting some of the plan’s objectives – especially in inspections, safety and security, and the United States continues to work with the Bangladesh government to ensure further progress on workers' rights.
Bangladesh's Membership in International Organizations
Bangladesh and the United States belong to a number of the same international organizations, including the United Nations, ASEAN Regional Forum, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, and World Trade Organization.
Bilateral Representation
The U.S. Ambassador to Bangladesh is Marcia Bernicat; other principal embassy officials are listed in the Department's Key Officers List.
Bangladesh maintains an embassy in the United States at 3510 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 (tel: 202-244-0183).
More information about Bangladesh is available from the Department of State and other sources, some of which are listed here:
Department of State Bangladesh Country Page
Department of State Key Officers List
CIA World Factbook Bangladesh Page
U.S. Embassy: Bangladesh
USAID Bangladesh Page
History of U.S. Relations With Bangladesh
Human Rights Reports
International Religious Freedom Reports
Trafficking in Persons Reports
Narcotics Control Reports
Investment Climate Statements
Office of the U.S. Trade Representative Countries Page
U.S. Census Bureau Foreign Trade Statistics
Export.gov International Offices Page
Library of Congress Country Studies
Travel and Business Information