Selected USBAC Accomplishments:
- Played a key role in forming the Bangladesh Caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives,
founded by Congressman Joseph Crowley (D-NY) and co-chaired by Congressmen Benjamin
A. Gilman (R-NY) and Joseph Crowley. The caucus is currently co-chaired by Congressmen
Joseph Crowley, Gary Ackerman, Mark Kirk and Peter King. Thanks to USBAC, there is now a
constituency for Bangladesh in the U.S. Congress.
- Provided critical ideas and advice to policymakers, NGOs and opinion leaders on trade and
climate change issues which helped shape legislation in Congress.
- Organized and arranged the first ever U.S. Congressional Delegation visit to Bangladesh in
January 2002. Congressmen Joseph Crowley (D-NY) and Jim McDermott (D-WA) visited
Dhaka Jan 11-14. The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association
(BGMEA) hosted a gala dinner in honor of the congressmen on Jan 11. The delegation had a
briefing meeting on "The Bangladesh Economy and the Arsenic Problem" at Bangladesh
Enterprise Institute on Jan 12, followed by a visit to the textile and apparel industrial park, a
boat ride in a traditional Bangladeshi boat, and a visit to a BRAC project in Dhamrai. US
Ambassador Mary Anne Peters, hosted a dinner for the delegation which was attended by
Foreign Minister Morshed Khan, Finance Minister Saifur Rahman, Commerce Minister Amir
Khosru Chowdhury, presidents of chambers of commerce and trade bodies, editors of local
dailies and many distinguished guests. During the visit the delegation called on Prime
Minister Khaleda Zia, the Speaker of the Parliament, as well as the Foreign, Home and
Commerce Ministers. At the conclusion of the visit, the delegation held a press conference at
the State Guest House and declared their commitment to improve relations between
Bangladesh and the US with special emphasis on trade preference for Bangladesh in the US.
- Held successful events in February 2009 and April 2007 with the Paul H. Nitze School of
Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University on the Future of Democracy in
Bangladesh.
- In November 2005, hosted a Congressional luncheon on Capitol Hill for a visiting Bangladesh
Trade Delegation led by the Commerce Advisor to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, and
president and directors of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association
(BGMEA). USBAC helped organize meetings for the Bangladesh trade delegation with
Congressional sponsors of the TRADE Act of 2005, as well as with senior officials at USTR,
the Department of State, the Cotton Council and American Apparel & Footwear Association.
- In April 2005, organized a dinner and reception honoring (now Nobel Laureate) Dr. Muhammed
Yunus, the pioneer of micro-credit and the founder of Grameen Bank, Bangladesh. Dr. Yunus
spoke of the need for Bangladeshi-Americans to work actively with their representatives in
Congress to ensure the passage of H.R. 886 or the Tariff Relief Assistance for Developing
Economies Act (TRADE) of 2005. The trade bill is key to the economic development of South
and South-East Asian developing countries. Other speakers at this event included the
Ambassadors of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal as well as former Assistant
USTR Ambassador Ronald Sorini, and former U.S. Ambassador David Merrill. USBAC
members who also spoke on this occasion included USBAC Chair Mr. Shabbir Ahmed
Chowdhury, and members Mr. Yusuf Salahuddin and Mrs. Nilofer Ahmed.
U.S. Bangladesh Advisory Council
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Copyright U.S. Bangladesh Advisory Council