US assistance a positive development for our current challenges, future plans

The development of the US-Bangladesh relations, in my opinion, is positive. The reason is that, at this moment, our needs and their commitment to cooperation are aligned, which brings us a sense of relief.

We are currently facing numerous challenges, especially economic ones, such as issues in the banking sector, foreign currency shortages, money laundering, and fuel crises. To overcome these challenges, we require support, and yesterday's meeting with the US delegation provided us with some assurance that they will stand by us, which is reassuring.

Additionally, regarding the reforms we are working on, while we are capable of doing many things ourselves, we may still require external technical support, and we can seek their cooperation in these areas as well.

I believe that their assistance will be a positive development for both our current challenges and our future plans.

On the other hand, at this time, we have not received any such assurances from any other source regarding assistance to address our current economic challenges. In this context, as the US is stepping forward to cooperate with us, I do not see any reason why we shouldn't work with them, nor do I believe that doing so will upset any other countries.

I also don't think their cooperation will significantly influence us internally. Beyond economic strengthening, we need to undertake many reforms. For a long time, the US has been advising us on political and institutional reforms, and we are now working on institutional reforms. They didn't specifically mention these reforms in the current context, but for our own benefit, we are implementing reforms—such as banking and stock market reforms. Six commissions have been established to reform various institutions. If we want to make our democratic framework sustainable, there is no alternative to these reforms. We must carry them out. And if the US helps us while we're doing this, there is no issue with that.

The essence of bilateral friendship is standing by each other in times of need. In that case, we will welcome those who come to support us. But this doesn't mean that we will view it as a trade-off or that we will harm our relations with others.

Keeping our own needs and interests in mind, we will maintain relations with everyone and work with whoever we need to, on whatever issue requires collaboration at the time.

The author is a former ambassador of Bangladesh to the United States