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Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed has assured that the recent remarks made by Tulsi Gabbard, Director of National Intelligence in the United States, will not impact the strong bilateral and economic relations between Bangladesh and the US.
He made the remarks while speaking to reporters after a meeting of the Advisory Council Committee on Government Procurement at the Secretariat on Tuesday.
Salehuddin emphasised that Bangladesh’s relationship with the US remains unchanged.
His comments came after Gabbard’s interview with India’s NDTV World on 17 March, where she spoke about the persecution of religious minorities, including Hindus, Buddhists, and Christians, in Bangladesh. She also mentioned the rise of extremist elements and terror groups globally that aim to establish an “Islamic Caliphate.” Gabbard linked these groups to the broader threat of Islamist terrorism.
In response, the Bangladesh government condemned Gabbard’s remarks, stating that they were baseless and lacked any specific evidence. The government described the statements as misleading, damaging to Bangladesh’s image, and unjustly generalized the country. It further reiterated that Bangladesh’s practice of Islam is inclusive and peaceful, and the country has made significant progress in combating extremism and terrorism. The government also rejected any association with the concept of an “Islamist Caliphate.”
Addressing the issue of congestion at Chattogram Port, Salehuddin reported that the backlog of unloading goods had decreased. He acknowledged concerns about soybean oil shipments, noting that they are aware of the situation and are doing their best to handle it effectively. He added that the Ministry of Commerce has been tasked with investigating any potential negligence, but overall, the situation has been well managed.
Salehuddin also spoke about Bangladesh’s progress toward graduating from Least Developed Country (LDC) status by 2026. He expressed pride in the country’s achievements and assured that any challenges faced along the way would be addressed.
When questioned about a recent report by The Guardian suggesting that Bangladesh was on the brink of an economic crisis, the adviser dismissed the claim, pointing out that Bangladesh had faced a crisis under the previous government but had since recovered and was now in a strong economic position. He also criticised foreign reports, suggesting they often mix imagination with fact and don’t always reflect a full understanding of the situation.
