U.S. Bangladesh Advisory Council
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PRESS RELEASE
U.S. Bangladesh Advisory Council Hosts Foreign Minister of Bangladesh Dr. Dipu Moni, in
Partnership with Johns Hopkins University-SAIS
Contact: press@usbac.org
September 17, 2009, Washington, DC: The U.S. Bangladesh Advisory Council, along with Johns
Hopkins University, School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), today hosted the Honorable
Foreign Minister of Bangladesh, Dr. Dipu Moni for a lively discussion on U.S. - Bangladesh relations.
Attendees at the event included Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for South Asia, Michael Delaney,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Michael Owens, Bangladesh
Ambassador Designate Akramul Qader, Legislative Director for Congressman Jim McDermott, Toby
Whitney, as well as representatives from various leading NGOs including Oxfam America, CARE,
Action Aid, Democratic Leadership Council and TASC, businesses including Chevron, Walmart, Levi
Strauss, Conocophillips, U.S. Chamber of Commerce as well as Al Jazeera Network.
Dr. Walter Andersen, Head of South Asia Studies at Johns Hopkins University welcomed the guests
and made a note that Dr. Dipu Moni is an alumni of the University's School of Public Health. Shabbir
Ahmed Chowdhury, Chair of the U.S. Bangladesh Advisory Council and Shamarukh Mohiuddin,
Executive Director of USBAC made introductory remarks and introduced Minister Moni. Mr. Ahmed
said that "USBAC is proud of the recent democratic elections in Bangladesh and is keen to work with
the new Bangladeshi government to advance US-Bangladesh understanding." Kazi Yusuf
Salahuddin of USBAC introduced Ambassador Designate Akramul Qader who will soon present his
credentials to the U.S. Department of State. Ambassador Qader expressed his wish to work closely
with USBAC on policy issues affecting Bangladesh.
Minister Dipu Moni is Bangladesh ’s new Foreign Minister and the first female foreign minister of a
South Asian country. In her remarks Minister Moni thanked USBAC and Johns Hopkins-SAIS for
hosting her and spoke about her vision for US-Bangladesh relations as well about her visit with
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton the day before.
About her meeting with Secretary Clinton, she said: “We are two friends who share the same
democratic values. In Bangladesh , we admire the creativity and enterprise of the American people,
and your excellent institutions. We hope to create a bridge of understanding that transcends our
geographic distance.” She noted that Bangladesh is committed to fighting extremism because
“terrorism anywhere threatens democracy everywhere.”
Her remarks focused on issues including democracy in Bangladesh , Bangladesh ’s role in the
world, as well as areas where US policy towards Bangladesh could improve. She said that
Bangladesh has “shifted from dependence on aid to an economic relationship with the U.S. that is
based on trade and investment.” She said she hopes that the U.S. would recognize Bangladesh ’s
commitment to democracy, as well as its contribution to peace-building around the world and
enhance its trade relationship with Bangladesh by providing duty free quota free access for
Bangladeshi products.
Minister Moni also talked about the impact of climate change on Bangladesh and other poor
countries. To this end, she said, she is encouraged by President Obama’s leadership in the area of
climate change, and that for Bangladesh , the “existential threat that climate change poses cannot be
brushed aside.” She expressed the need for U.S. policy to focus on countries that are the most
vulnerable.
Minister Moni also said that Bangladesh is committed to fighting poverty through a bottom up strategy
that involves women’s empowerment, and that many civil society models of fighting poverty in
Bangladesh can be replicated on a global scale.
#END#
U.S. Bangladesh Advisory Council Hosts Foreign Minister of Bangladesh Dr. Dipu Moni, in
Partnership with Johns Hopkins University-SAIS
Contact: press@usbac.org
September 17, 2009, Washington, DC: The U.S. Bangladesh Advisory Council, along with Johns
Hopkins University, School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), today hosted the Honorable
Foreign Minister of Bangladesh, Dr. Dipu Moni for a lively discussion on U.S. - Bangladesh relations.
Attendees at the event included Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for South Asia, Michael Delaney,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Michael Owens, Bangladesh
Ambassador Designate Akramul Qader, Legislative Director for Congressman Jim McDermott, Toby
Whitney, as well as representatives from various leading NGOs including Oxfam America, CARE,
Action Aid, Democratic Leadership Council and TASC, businesses including Chevron, Walmart, Levi
Strauss, Conocophillips, U.S. Chamber of Commerce as well as Al Jazeera Network.
Dr. Walter Andersen, Head of South Asia Studies at Johns Hopkins University welcomed the guests
and made a note that Dr. Dipu Moni is an alumni of the University's School of Public Health. Shabbir
Ahmed Chowdhury, Chair of the U.S. Bangladesh Advisory Council and Shamarukh Mohiuddin,
Executive Director of USBAC made introductory remarks and introduced Minister Moni. Mr. Ahmed
said that "USBAC is proud of the recent democratic elections in Bangladesh and is keen to work with
the new Bangladeshi government to advance US-Bangladesh understanding." Kazi Yusuf
Salahuddin of USBAC introduced Ambassador Designate Akramul Qader who will soon present his
credentials to the U.S. Department of State. Ambassador Qader expressed his wish to work closely
with USBAC on policy issues affecting Bangladesh.
Minister Dipu Moni is Bangladesh ’s new Foreign Minister and the first female foreign minister of a
South Asian country. In her remarks Minister Moni thanked USBAC and Johns Hopkins-SAIS for
hosting her and spoke about her vision for US-Bangladesh relations as well about her visit with
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton the day before.
About her meeting with Secretary Clinton, she said: “We are two friends who share the same
democratic values. In Bangladesh , we admire the creativity and enterprise of the American people,
and your excellent institutions. We hope to create a bridge of understanding that transcends our
geographic distance.” She noted that Bangladesh is committed to fighting extremism because
“terrorism anywhere threatens democracy everywhere.”
Her remarks focused on issues including democracy in Bangladesh , Bangladesh ’s role in the
world, as well as areas where US policy towards Bangladesh could improve. She said that
Bangladesh has “shifted from dependence on aid to an economic relationship with the U.S. that is
based on trade and investment.” She said she hopes that the U.S. would recognize Bangladesh ’s
commitment to democracy, as well as its contribution to peace-building around the world and
enhance its trade relationship with Bangladesh by providing duty free quota free access for
Bangladeshi products.
Minister Moni also talked about the impact of climate change on Bangladesh and other poor
countries. To this end, she said, she is encouraged by President Obama’s leadership in the area of
climate change, and that for Bangladesh , the “existential threat that climate change poses cannot be
brushed aside.” She expressed the need for U.S. policy to focus on countries that are the most
vulnerable.
Minister Moni also said that Bangladesh is committed to fighting poverty through a bottom up strategy
that involves women’s empowerment, and that many civil society models of fighting poverty in
Bangladesh can be replicated on a global scale.
#END#
