Bangladeshi-American Behnaz Kibria nominated to US trade advisory committee

President Barack Obama has announced his intention to appoint Bangladeshi- American Behnaz Kibria to a key post in the US administration.

Behnaz, who has served as the Deputy Chief of Staff for the Office of the US Trade Representative since 2007, was nominated on Monday for membership on the Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations, a key position in the administration.

The White House also released the names of 28 other nominees for various important positions in the same release.

A hearing of the US Senate will decide whether the nominees will be appointed. If Behnaz is confirmed by the senate, she will serve for a term of two years.

“These fine public servants bring a depth of experience and tremendous dedication to their important roles, said President Obama. “I know they will serve the American people well.”

Previously, on April 24, 2014, Bangladeshi-American Dr N Nina Ahmad had been appointed as a member of the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Her term ends this May.

Before taking her current post, Behnaz Kibria served as a Trade Counsel to the Committee on Ways and Means in the United States House of Representatives, under which capacity she worked on free trade agreements with Peru, Colombia and Korea.

Her portfolio also includes US preference programs, enforcement issues and other trade and oversight initiatives.

She also served as an Assistant General Counsel at the US Trade representative and worked as an associate at law firm Hogan & Hartson, focusing on antidumping and countervailing duties cases.

Kibria received her BA from Wesleyan University and later graduated from the George Washington University Law School.

Kibria was born in Dhaka and currently resides in Arlington, Virginia with her husband and two daughters.