‎US Ambassador Brent Christensen to arrive in Dhaka next month

ছবিঃ সংগৃহীত

‎Diplomatic Correspondent: Brent Christensen, nominated by United States President Donald Trump as the next US Ambassador to Bangladesh, is set to arrive in Dhaka in January, 2026, source in Dhaka, Washington and New York said.   
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‎The national election of Bangladesh is set to be held in early February next year, and Brent Christensen is expected to arrive in Bangladesh before the polls. 
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‎Former US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas left Bangladesh in 2023 in a very unceremonious way as he did not have farewell meeting with the then Prime Minister Sheikh  Hasina, and even with President Shahab Uddin Ahmed . 
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‎“Not exactly the way I expected to conclude my assignment as US ambassador to Bangladesh,” Peter Haas wrote on LinkedIn as he left Bangladesh without the customary farewell meetings with the president, prime minister and foreign minister.
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‎“ Brent Christensen, of Virginia, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Counselor, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the People's Republic of Bangladesh," read a White House announcement of a series of nominations sent to the Senate for confirmation.
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‎Alongside Christensen's nomination, the White House also forwarded several other key diplomatic appointments for Senate approval.
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‎Nominee for the post of United States Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent Christensen has expressed his intent to strengthen cooperation with Bangladesh’s  both the current Interim and its future democratically elected government to further advance the Dhaka-Washington partnership, reports BSS.
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‎ “If confirmed, I look forward to leading the Embassy Dhaka team to build strong ties with both the current Interim Government and its democratically elected successor to advance the US-Bangladesh relationship,” he told the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations in his opening statement during his nomination hearing in Washington DC.  
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‎Christensen said that the US supports Bangladesh in its journey toward a bright and democratic future.
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‎“Student-led protests in August 2024 brought down a government that had been in power for 15 years. The people of Bangladesh will go to the polls early next year – the country’s most consequential election in decades – to choose a new government and a new path forward,” he said.
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‎Christensen of Virginia, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Counselor, appointed as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the People's Republic of Bangladesh once confirmed.
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‎The Ambassador Nominee said that Bangladesh’s strategic location makes it an important participant in an open, secure, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.
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‎“With my over twenty years of experience working on U.S. policy toward Bangladesh across my Foreign Service career, including a prior tour in Dhaka, I understand well its importance and the significant U.S. interests there,” he added.
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‎Often referred to as one of the new Asian tigers, he said Bangladesh showed significant economic potential. “If confirmed, I will work to promote opportunities for U.S. business, reduce trade barriers and the trade deficit, and strengthen U.S.-Bangladesh economic ties,” he added.
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‎For over eight years now, he said that Bangladesh had hosted one of the largest refugee populations, Rohingyas  in the world. 
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‎“If confirmed, I will work with the government of Bangladesh, the international community, and colleagues across the U.S. government, including this committee, on a viable and enduring way forward (of Rohingya crisis),” he added.
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‎If confirmed, he said “It would be an honor to return to Bangladesh as Ambassador to lead the talented men and women of U.S. Embassy Dhaka and advance the US-Bangladesh partnership. Thank you for the opportunity to testify today and I look forward to your questions.”
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‎Christensen has previous experience in Bangladesh, having served as Counselor for Political and Economic Affairs at the US Embassy here from 2019-2021, according to his official profile on the State Department’s website.