B Mirror Report : National Security Adviser Dr Khalilur Rahman has urged the United States to facilitate travel for Bangladeshi businesspeople in light of the recently introduced visa bond requirement, during a meeting with Allison Hooker, US Under-Secretary of State for Political Affairs, at the State Department in Washington DC on Friday.

According to a press release from the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing, Dr Rahman specifically requested that short-term B1 business visas for Bangladeshi entrepreneurs be excluded from the bond requirement, if possible, to support trade and commercial engagement between the two countries.

In response, Under-Secretary Hooker acknowledged the concern and assured that the US administration would give the matter favourable consideration. She noted that if cases of visa overstays by Bangladeshi visitors decline significantly in the future, Washington may reassess the bond policy currently in place.

Hooker also conveyed her appreciation for Bangladesh’s cooperation in the repatriation of undocumented Bangladeshi nationals from the United States.

The discussions also covered a wide range of bilateral and regional issues, including Bangladesh’s upcoming general election, economic and trade ties, the Rohingya refugee crisis, and broader regional developments.

During the meeting, Dr Rahman briefed the US official on the preparations and arrangements for the forthcoming national polls and expressed gratitude for continued US support to the interim government, including its assistance in the electoral process. In reply, Hooker reaffirmed strong US backing for Bangladesh’s democratic transition and said Washington is looking forward to free, fair and credible elections scheduled for February.

Highlighting economic cooperation, Dr Rahman pointed to the potential for expanded bilateral trade, particularly following Bangladesh’s increased imports of agricultural products from the United States.

He also thanked the US government for its sustained support to the Rohingya refugees hosted in Bangladesh, noting that the United States remains the largest donor for humanitarian assistance to the displaced population. Dr Rahman requested the continuation of US aid for the refugees.

Acknowledging Bangladesh’s significant role in sheltering the Rohingyas, Hooker thanked Dhaka for shouldering the burden and stressed the importance of broader international burden-sharing and finding a durable solution to the crisis. She also encouraged Bangladesh to enhance livelihood opportunities for the refugees while they remain in the country.

Dr Rahman further requested US consideration for access to financing from the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) for Bangladesh’s private sector, as well as support for semiconductor development financing. Under-Secretary Hooker assured that these proposals would be examined.

The National Security Adviser also expressed Bangladesh’s interest, in principle, in joining an international stabilisation force that may be deployed in Gaza. Hooker responded that the United States is open to working with Bangladesh on the issue.

In a separate meeting with Assistant Secretary of State Paul Kapur, Dr Rahman discussed issues of mutual interest, including the upcoming election in Bangladesh, bilateral relations, the Rohingya situation, the US visa bond policy, trade, investment and regional affairs.

As a special guest, Dr Rahman attended the swearing-in ceremony of Brent Christensen, the newly appointed US Ambassador to Bangladesh, held at the State Department. The oath was administered by Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources Michael J Rigas.

The event was attended by Bangladesh’s Ambassador to the United States, embassy officials, senior State Department and military officials, former US ambassadors to Bangladesh, and American business leaders.

In his remarks, Deputy Secretary Rigas reiterated Washington’s commitment to supporting Bangladesh’s democratic transition. Ambassador Christensen said the United States stands by Bangladesh in its journey toward a stronger democratic future and expressed optimism about working with the newly elected government to further strengthen US-Bangladesh relations.

Senior officials from the Bangladesh Embassy accompanied Dr Rahman at all meetings and events.