Momen urges US govt to lift RAB sanctions

Foreign Minister MA Momen Wednesday urged the US government, its senators and congressmen to lift sanctions on RAB and increase trade and investment cooperation.

During his meeting with Senator Chuck Schumer, the Majority Leader of the US Senate, he proposed revitalising the Bangladesh caucus.

Momen is on an official tour and is accompanied by lawmakers Mahbubul Alam Hanif and Nahim Razzaq, and Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen.

Momen then met Congressman Steve Chabot, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

He also expressed Bangladesh's expectations that the sanctions on RAB would be withdrawn soon.

The foreign minister attended some events organised by Washington DC-based think tanks including the United States Institute of Peace (USIP), Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), and National Bureau of Asian Research (NBR). 

In these programmes, Momen highlighted the impressive socio-economic progress Bangladesh has made and expressed optimism that US-Bangladesh economic and political relations would flourish further in the next 50 years. 

He also elaborated on Bangladesh's efforts to promote and protect human rights and democratic principles and urged the US government to lift sanctions on RAB and related individuals. 

Momen also attended a meeting with the US Chamber of Commerce's US-Bangladesh Business Council, on business cooperation. 

The discussion centred around the growing economic relationship between the two countries, which will set the foundation for the next 50 years of the bilateral relationship as Bangladesh transitions from an 'aid-dependent' economy to an 'investment-driven' economy.

Noting the importance of the US-Bangladesh relationship, Momen said that there are key areas of growth where US companies can support Bangladesh, like telecom infrastructure, digital economy, pharmaceuticals, blue economy, information and communication technology, financial technology, and digital payments.

He highlighted that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has allocated one special economic zone for American companies and welcomes their investment in Bangladesh.