Arakan News Agency
Dr. Khalilur Rahman, National Security Adviser and High Representative for the Rohingya issue, held meetings with senior US officials in Washington to discuss the Rohingya issue alongside regional political and security matters.
During his meeting with Under Secretary for Political Affairs, Allison Hooker, the United States expressed its support for Bangladesh’s efforts to resolve the Rohingya crisis. Dr. Khalilur Rahman thanked Washington for announcing $60 million in aid for the Rohingya during the UN International Conference on the Rohingya.
Rahman also discussed a wide range of bilateral issues with Nicole Chulick, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, and Andrew Herrup, Deputy Assistant Secretary, in addition to meeting with Brendan Lynch, Assistant US Trade Representative, to follow up on actions related to the recently concluded tariff negotiations.
Dr. Khalilur Rahman reaffirmed Bangladesh’s commitment to narrowing the trade gap with the United States and requested further tariff reductions. Lynch stressed that the US would carefully consider the matter as the tariff agreement is implemented and the trade gap narrows, reiterating Washington’s support for the Rohingya cause.
Bangladesh currently hosts over one million Rohingya refugees in the camps of Cox’s Bazar, which the United Nations describes as the largest refugee settlement in the world. The refugees have been living in dire humanitarian conditions since fleeing Myanmar in 2017 due to the “genocidal campaign” carried out by the Myanmar military against them conditions that worsened following renewed fighting between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army in November 2023.
