Dhaka : North South University’s (NSU) South Asian Institute of Policy and Governance (SIPG) organized a high-level seminar titled “The Significance of the July revolution for U.S.–Bangladesh Relations: Looking back, looking forward” on Monday, 28 July 2025, at the university’s syndicate hall. The seminar brought together distinguished diplomats, academics, policymakers, and industry leaders to explore the evolving nature of Bangladesh–United States relations in the context of recent political transitions in Bangladesh, including the youth-led July Revolution of 2024, and the broader strategic shifts unfolding across the Indo-Pacific region.
Ambassador Mohammad Sufiur Rahman, Senior Research Fellow at SIPG and former diplomat of the Bangladesh Foreign Service delivered the keynote presentation. Ambassador Rahman provided a comprehensive overview of the historical evolution of Bangladesh–U.S. relations—from initial friction during the Liberation War to all-around strategic cooperation—and emphasized the importance of recalibrating diplomatic efforts to meet new geopolitical realities. He identified the non-bilateral factors such as the India factor and, China factor in charting the course for future bilateral relations. He articulated Bangladesh’s discomfort with no-tariff demands from the USA that include compliance with standards of intellectual property, labor law, etc. As well as to reduce economic linkage with China. He advised the two countries to focus on trust-building and long-term interests rather than short-term gains, and advised against coercion as a tool to pursue interests.
The seminar featured a special address by Jon F. Danilowicz, former U.S. diplomat, who highlighted the enduring people-to-people ties between the two nations, the evolving U.S. Indo-Pacific outlook, and the value of democratic engagement in sustaining long-term cooperation. He refuted strongly the misinformation and disinformation related to the US role in the July Uprising. He argued that the US had no role in the July Revolution. He advised both the US and Bangladesh to focus on developing mutual trust.
Following the keynote, three prominent discussants offered their perspectives on economic, political, and strategic dimensions of the bilateral relationship. Faisal Samad, former Senior Vice President of BGMEA, focused on the implications of recent U.S. tariff hikes on Bangladesh’s readymade garments sector and emphasized the need for pragmatic trade diplomacy in navigating evolving global trade policies. He pointed out that from a business standpoint, they are deeply concerned about the newly imposed tariffs. This isn’t just an $8 billion issue—it will have a much broader, multibillion-dollar impact on our economy. He emphasized that Bangladesh needs more trade, not aid.
Professor (Retd.) Shahiduzzaman, formerly of the Department of International Relations at the University of Dhaka, provided a critical analysis of Bangladesh’s positioning within the larger Indo-Pacific strategy and reflected on how past diplomatic legacies shape current governance challenges. He underscored the unique regional significance of China and India and urged the US to accept this in economic interpretation and geopolitical understanding.
Dr. AKM Waresul Karim, Professor and Dean of the School of Business and Economics (SBE) at NSU, offered an economic outlook on Bangladesh–U.S. relations, emphasizing that democracy is more than a political system। That contrast speaks volumes. As Bangladesh’s largest export destination, the United States matters to us as a trade partner and a democratic ally. We want them not only on our side, but alongside our people, in our shared pursuit of dignity, justice, and democratic accountability.
In his concluding remarks, Professor Dr. Abdul Hannan Chowdhury, Vice-Chancellor of North South University, emphasized the importance of evidence-based, inclusive dialogue in advancing the national interest through strategic partnerships. He thanked the distinguished guests and reaffirmed NSU’s commitment to fostering informed discussion on pressing global and regional issues. He stressed the need for adopting good practices on workplace safety, new technology, higher remuneration packages, etc., for enhancing productivity in Bangladeshi firms. He called upon the US to focus on knowledge creation and institutional collaboration for Bangladesh and US educational institutions.
The program was moderated by Professor Sk. Tawfique M. Haque, Director of SIPG, underscored the importance of academic engagement in shaping foreign policy discourse. He began by saying that the seminar comes at a critical juncture—when the global geopolitical landscape is evolving rapidly, and Bangladesh’s foreign relations, particularly with the United States, are witnessing both new opportunities and emerging challenges. The seminar opened with a welcome speech by Dr. Noor Mohammad Sarker, Assistant Professor at the Department of Political Science and Sociology, North South University.
