Bangladesh-US relations reaching new heights: Mahdi

Prime Minister's Adviser Mahdi Amin has said Bangladesh's relations with the United States are deep and strong, and have evolved beyond people-to-people connections into a new level of development partnership.

He made the remarks while addressing a seminar titled “Powering Bangladesh’s Next Growth Chapter: A Pathway to Energy Security and Stability” at Hotel InterContinental Dhaka on Thursday.

The event was organised by the US Embassy in Dhaka and the American Chamber of Commerce in Bangladesh (AmCham).

Mahdi said more than 50 US companies had invested directly in Bangladesh, adding that the country's large population, expanding middle class and democratically elected government offered significant potential for further American investment.

He said the government was committed to maintaining policy continuity and a business-friendly environment to attract new investment. While the readymade garment sector remained a major pillar of the economy, Bangladesh also saw opportunities to expand exports of leather, processed food and agricultural products.

Imports of American goods, including wheat, soybean and scrap metal, could also grow, he added.

Highlighting cooperation in the energy sector, Mahdi referred to Chevron's involvement in gas exploration and production and Excelerate Energy's operation of floating storage and regasification units (FSRUs).

He said the government planned to expand gas and coal exploration, creating further opportunities for US companies.

He also called for regulatory reforms, economic liberalisation and equal opportunities for businesses, saying US companies with advanced technologies and services could help address Bangladesh's challenges in the power and energy sectors.

Referring to social welfare initiatives, he said the government was open to working with international companies such as Mastercard and Visa to implement programmes including the Family Card and Farmers’ Card.

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Mahdi also highlighted discussions on expanding higher education opportunities and scholarships for Bangladeshi students in the United States. He expressed optimism that the newly elected government under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman would take initiatives to elevate bilateral relations further.

Following the seminar, he visited different stalls at the 30th US Trade Show 2026.

The seminar featured a keynote presentation by Chevron Bangladesh President and Managing Director Shu Xiang. Other participants included representatives from GE Vernova, Excelerate Energy, BSRM Group and the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET).