Whoever comes to power, we`ve no problem: FM on US polls

Dhaka (Nov 4, 2020): Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen today said Bangladesh does not have any problem whoever wins the US election which sees a very tight contest.

“Whoever comes to power, we’ve no problem,” Momen told reporters at his office mentioning that the foreign policy does not depend on any individual, reports UNB.

The Foreign Minister said it is too early to say who will win the election. “This is technically a different type of election. They’ve designed the system pretty nicely, having dignity for each State.”

Momen said Bangladesh's economy is doing very well and Bangladesh is geopolitically in a very good situation. "We maintain neutrality. We don't have enmity with any country. We expect good for all."

The Foreign Minister said he thinks Bangladesh will work very well with the US on the trade and investment front. "We have good relations.

Momen said Bangladesh wants to see stability everywhere. "We want solid stability."

In this interconnected world, he said, it will be good for Bangladesh if stability prevails everywhere.

The Foreign Minister said many countries, including the Trump Administration, remained busy with their respective countries since the Covid-19 pandemic. "It seems this trend will continue for many days."

The Foreign Minister recalled that President Donald Trump cancelled the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).

At that time Trump fulfilled a campaign pledge by signing an executive order to withdraw from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).

The 12-nation trade deal was a linchpin of former President Barack Obama's Asia policy.

The Foreign Minister said whoever comes to power after the US election, the US government works in line with their people's and country's interest.

Bangladesh is hopeful of continuity on discussion with the United States on strengthening economic ties as the election results are unlikely to have any impact on it.

Responding to a question, the Foreign Secretary on Tuesday said as far as Bangladesh-US relationship is concerned, the US' relationship does not depend on individual or party.

Rather, Masud Momen said, such a relationship goes through an institutional framework.

He said the government will work on maintaining the stable relationship with the US keeping economic ties unhurt and there will be efforts to restore the facilities that remain suspended.

The Foreign Secretary said both the countries discussed recently how to strengthen economic cooperation exploring new avenues.

During the visit of US Deputy Secretary of State Stephen E Biegun, the US side discussed the issues that the US Department of State pursues but not the political issues, he told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The United States wants to deepen its ties across South Asia, particularly with Bangladesh and India, as it sees real potential to have stronger relations.

"We’re at a moment of real potential in the opportunity to deepen our relations across South Asia, but in particular with these two partners - India and Bangladesh," said the US Deputy Secretary of State.

After the visit, Biegun said they have an intervening election that will happen but he reiterates his confidence that regardless of the outcome of their elections, the future is quite bright for relations between the United States and these two very important South Asian partners.

He said his recent visit to both Bangladesh and India was part of a series of engagements the United States has had with both of these critical partners.

"And it’s one that you’ll see continuing to progress over the weeks and months ahead," he said adding, "It's certainly a task that I’m happy to be a part of and I’m very much looking forward to our next engagements."

President Donald Trump won Florida, the nation’s most prized battleground state, as he and Democrat Joe Biden on Tuesday battled to the finish of an epic campaign that will shape America’s response to the surging pandemic and foundational questions of economic fairness and racial justice.