Freedom of media, speech essential

The United States has said the existence of viable political parties and ensuring freedom of media and speech are essential for Bangladesh to fulfil its true potential as a vibrant and secure democracy.

“We share a vision for a democratic, moderate and tolerant Bangladesh,” the US embassy in Dhaka said in a fact sheet released yesterday ahead of US Secretary of State John Kerry's visit to Bangladesh.

The shared vision, according to the US, serves as a bridge for trade and commerce between South and Southeast Asia and an anchor for stability and prosperity in the Bay of Bengal region.

Kerry arrives here tomorrow morning to discuss a whole range of bilateral, regional and global issues.

The fact sheet on Bangladesh-US relationship mentioned that strong bilateral ties between the two countries is bolstered by shared efforts to confront global challenges such as violent extremism, climate change, health and food security.

“While it continues to face many challenges, Bangladesh has achieved two decades of extraordinary economic growth and made tremendous strides in reducing poverty and improving maternal and child health,” it said.

The USA remains committed to supporting development in Bangladesh, read the fact-sheet. The funding levels for USAID are currently quite expansive at nearly $200 million annually, the US embassy added.

In the last three decades, according to the US, Bangladesh has emerged as a leading global player in clothing. Its apparel manufacturing now accounts for nearly $25 billion in annual exports and has allowed four million women workers to take part in the country's growing prosperity.

Bangladesh is a top contributor of international peacekeepers, helping bring security to people's lives from Ethiopia to East Timor. Currently, Bangladesh has more than 7,000 troops deployed in 10 UN Peacekeeping Operations.

The US embassy said Bangladesh has achieved extraordinary progress on health metrics. The country's maternal and child health programmes achieved the Millennium Development Goals and have ensured that a higher proportion of children get education, receive proper healthcare, and escape the shackles of poverty.

The USAID has helped Bangladesh reduce maternal and child mortality by more than 60 percent since 1990. The US mentioned that Bangladesh has reduced its poverty rate from over half of the population to less than a third.

The US government, through the USAID, has provided more than $6 billion in development assistance to Bangladesh since 1971.

Bangladesh is a key partner country for the US government's three major development initiatives: Feed the Future (addressing global food insecurity), Global Climate Change and the Global Health Initiative.

Additionally, the USAID provides assistance to address gender-based violence, empower women, and combat both human and wildlife trafficking.

About 5,455 Bangladeshis are studying in the USA, almost 60 percent at the graduate level. Bangladesh is close to joining the top 25 sending countries of foreign students to the US (as of 2015, Bangladesh ranks 27th).