The United States has commended Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus for addressing the Rohingya crisis in the broader context of the situation in Myanmar, rather than viewing it in isolation. During a meeting on Thursday at the state guesthouse Jamuna, US Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, Nicole Ann Chulick, conveyed appreciation for Bangladesh’s continued generosity in hosting 1.2 million Rohingyas and acknowledged Dr Yunus’ leadership on the issue.
The US delegation, which also included Andrew R Herrup from the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, expressed support for the reform initiatives of Bangladesh’s Interim Government. National Security Adviser Dr Khalilur Rahman and US mission head in Dhaka, Tracey Ann Jacobson, were also present during the discussion.
Dr Yunus highlighted recent progress, particularly Myanmar’s identification of 180,000 Rohingyas as eligible for repatriation to Rakhine, calling it a significant step forward. The US side welcomed his efforts to strengthen regional cooperation, connectivity, and people-to-people engagement.
Reaffirming the strong bilateral relationship, Dr Yunus assured the US of the interim government’s commitment to further cooperation with the Trump administration. He also thanked President Donald J. Trump for resuming aid for the Rohingyas and temporarily suspending reciprocal tariffs for ninety days, noting Bangladesh’s continued support for the US trade agenda.
The US delegation also held a separate hour-long meeting with Dr Khalilur Rahman to discuss key regional issues related to peace, security, and bilateral ties, including the Rohingya situation and developments in Myanmar.
