Bangladeshi businessmen urge lifting of US visa embargo, pledge higher imports

Bangladeshi business leaders have called on the United States to lift visa restrictions on Bangladeshi nationals and assured an increase in imports of US agricultural products, energy, and machinery to help reduce the bilateral trade gap.

The discussion took place yesterday afternoon (26 January) when US Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent T Christensen met with owners and senior representatives of five leading industrial groups at the Radisson Blu Chittagong Bay View. 

Participants included Meghna Group of Industries Chairman and Managing Director Mustafa Kamal, Seacom Group Chairman Mohammed Amirul Haque, Paragon Group Managing Director Mashiur Rahman, Nahar Agro Managing Director Rakibur Rahman Tutul, and a senior official from City Group.

The meeting focused on expanding US–Bangladesh trade, easing regulatory and compliance-related barriers, simplifying import procedures, and improving logistics efficiency to lower the cost of importing LPG, industrial raw materials, and agricultural commodities.

Speaking to The Times of Bangladesh after the meeting, Seacom Group Chairman Mohammed Amirul Haque said, "We held a bilateral discussion with the US Ambassador, focusing on reducing the trade gap between our two countries. We also discussed ways to import LPG from the United States at a lower cost, including how improved logistics efficiency and the use of our territorial facilities could help reduce overall expenses and ensure products reach Bangladesh more cost-effectively."

"The US Ambassador committed to looking into these issues. We also raised concerns regarding visa challenges faced by Bangladeshi businesspeople, including administrative difficulties and delays, and requested the withdrawal of existing visa-related restrictions on Bangladesh," he added. 

Amirul Haque further said, "We assured the Ambassador of our intention to increase imports of agricultural products from the United States, while also requesting that US products be made more competitive compared to those from other exporting countries. We further urged the removal of visa-related embargoes affecting Bangladeshi nationals."

The US Ambassador also discussed Bangladesh's infrastructure development, trade facilitation, reducing barriers to the business environment, and boosting imports of US machinery and goods, according to a press release from the Chattogram Port Authority (CPA).

On the same day, a five-member US delegation led by Ambassador Christensen visited Chattogram Port and paid a courtesy call on CPA Chairman Rear Admiral S M Moniruzzaman. During the meeting, the port chairman welcomed the US government's interest in establishing a cold chain industry for storing imported reefer containers.

Ambassador Christensen expressed satisfaction with the port's current and future operations and assured full US cooperation to help develop Chattogram Port into a modern, world-class facility. Members of the US delegation present included Michael Pennell, economic unit chief, and Paul Frost, commercial counselor.