Trump admin to stay in touch with interim govt

The new US administration has discussed a broad range of matters of mutual interest with Dhaka, while agreeing to stay in touch.

US Deputy National Security Advisor Alex N Wong yesterday held a teleconference with Dr Khalilur Rahman, the chief adviser's high representative on the Rohingya issue.

"The two officials discussed a broad range of matters of mutual interest and agreed to remain in contact," said a statement from Chief Adviser's Press Wing. This marks the highest-level engagement between the new US administration and the interim government so far.

Recently, the US government confirmed US $73 million in new financial aid for Rohingyas. This comes at a time when the Trump administration has significantly reduced USAID funding worldwide.

The US remains the largest provider of aid to the Rohingya refugees, contributing nearly US $2.4 billion since 2017 and supporting the UN's emergency food and nutrition programmes.

Currently, around 1.2 million Rohingya refugees live in Cox's Bazar.

In a separate development, the US recently recognised Bangladesh's women student protest leaders from the July uprising with the prestigious Madeleine Albright Honorary Group Award.