B Mirror Report : Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman today said Bangladesh has no secret agreement with the United States, stressing that all existing arrangements have already been made public.
“There is no secret agreement with the United States; whatever agreements exist have already been disclosed,” he told reporters at the Secretariat.
He made the remarks after US Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent T. Christensen paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. The meeting was also attended by the Prime Minister’s Adviser for Foreign Affairs, Humayun Kabir.
Rejecting claims that Bangladesh requires US permission to import oil, the minister termed such allegations “completely false.” He clarified that any restrictions related to Russian oil stem from global sanctions, not from any bilateral trade deal with Washington.
Dr Rahman further noted that there are no binding obligations on Bangladesh regarding energy imports. He said the discussions during the meeting focused on broader bilateral cooperation, including energy, trade, and development.
On energy cooperation, he mentioned that while certain matters remain confidential, the United States has assured support to help strengthen Bangladesh’s energy security.
Replying to a question, the minister said the government is exploring multiple sources to address the current energy situation and will procure fuel from the most cost-effective options. He added that India, the Middle East, and the United States remain viable alternatives.
He emphasized that ensuring a stable energy supply and maintaining national energy security remain top priorities, with imports to be sourced from competitive global markets.
Regarding the Prime Minister’s possible foreign visits, Dr Rahman said discussions are still at a preliminary stage, with no destination finalized yet.
During the meeting, the US ambassador presented two photographs and a replica of the White House to the Prime Minister. One photograph features Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman with former US President Jimmy Carter, while the other shows former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia with former US President George Bush Sr.
