Congressman Ted Deutch to work for stronger Bangladesh-US ties

US Congressman Ted Deutch (Democrat- Florida), an influential member of the US House Foreign Affairs Committee, has expressed his interest to bolster Bangladesh-US cooperation on wide-ranging issues, including climate change, counterterrorism, and Rohingya issues. He said this when Bangladesh Ambassador to the United States, M Shahidul Islam, met him at latter’s Boca Raton office in Florida. 

Congressman Deutch praised Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for giving shelter to over one million persecuted Rohingyas. He emphasized that the House Foreign Affairs Committee was fully seized with the Rohingya issue and was willing to do more to resolve this humanitarian crisis. 

Congressman Deutch also agreed to help revitalize the Congressional Bangladesh Caucus, an informal platform of Bangladesh’s friends in the US Congress that has remained dormant since its Chair, former Congressman Joseph Crowley, lost his reelection bid in 2018.  

Earlier, the Ambassador attended a reception organized by the Bangladesh Association of Florida. Five City Mayors of West Palm Beach, Boynton Beach, Pahokee City, Bele Glade, South Bay, and two Commissioners of Broward County and West Palm Beach County were present. The City Mayors and County officials welcomed opening of a new Consulate General in Miami, Florida.The Broward County Commissioner presented the ‘Key to the Broward County’ to the Ambassador. 

The Bangladeshi American community of South Florida expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for opening Bangladesh’s third Consulatein Florida. Community leaders, professionals, and leading businessmen, including Mohammad Zahir, Md. Fazlur Rahman, Junaid Akhter, and Abdul WahedMahfuz were present.