FROM PAGE 12

“The government may have informed you of those details,” BNP Standing Committee Member Abdul Moyeen Khan told reporters after a BNP delegation led by him met Paul Kapur at the ambassador’s residence separately yesterday.

Kapur, who arrived in Dhaka on Tuesday night, met the ministers of foreign affairs, commerce, energy and power on Wednesday and attended a dinner hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce.

Yesterday, he also met Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir and delegations of BNP and Jamaat.

Economists have said the reciprocal trade deal with the US contains provisions restricting purchase and trade deals with non-market economies that can affect Bangladesh in the long run. They also questioned why the interim government had to sign it only three days before the polls.

On Wednesday, Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman, however, said the deal was better compared to those between the US and India, Cambodia, Vietnam and Indonesia, and questioned if Bangladesh could sustain trade with the 37 percent tariff if the deal had not been signed.

On the issue, Jamaat leader Taher, also the deputy leader of the opposition in parliament, said Bangladesh imports a large volume of cotton and soybean from the US and requested Paul Kapur that the US allow Bangladeshi goods into the US market at tariffs lower than 19 percent as in the agreement.

Taher said there is significant scope for US investments in Bangladesh, especially in AI and technology, which can create substantial jobs.

He added that Bangladesh seeks friendly relations with all countries while safeguarding its national interests.

Speaking to reporters, BNP leader Moyeen Khan said the US officials wanted to understand what is happening in Bangladesh, BNP policies and future courses of action.

He added that discussions included the relationship between the two countries’ peoples, government policies, global developments, economic cooperation and the freedom of expression that aligns with the US priorities.

The meeting between Paul Kapur and the prime minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser, Humayun Kabir, touched upon bilateral relations, regional cooperation, increasing trade and investment, and development partnership, among others.

In a statement, the PMO press wing said Humayun Kabir hoped to make this relationship stronger and multi-dimensional in the future, emphasising the importance of increasing economic cooperation, trade expansion, and joint initiatives across various development sectors.

Assistant Secretary Paul Kapur reiterated the United States’ interest in further advancing the Bangladesh-US relationship and highlighted the potential for expanding various areas of mutual cooperation.