US Assistant Secretary of State Paul Kapur to visit Bangladesh to ‘strengthen ties’

The first high-level US visit since the new government took office aims to bolster trade and security

US Assistant Secretary of State Paul Kapur is set to arrive in Dhaka on Tuesday for a two-day visit, marking the first high-level US trip since the BNP-led government took office.

US Embassy spokesperson Poornima Rai confirmed the visit in a statement on Monday, saying it “aims to further strengthen the strategic relationship between the United States and Bangladesh”.

During his stay, Kapur will meet with government officials and business leaders to discuss expanding bilateral trade and investment, enhancing security cooperation, and advancing shared interests in the Indo-Pacific region.

As Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, Kapur leads the bureau responsible for US relations with Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Maldives, Bhutan, and the five Central Asian republics.

His role includes guiding regional diplomacy, coordinating security and development strategies, and advising on US policy toward major powers such as China and Russia.

Kapur, 56, is an Indian American scholar known for his expertise on nuclear deterrence and South Asian security. Born in New Delhi to an Indian father and an American mother, he was raised in the United States.

He was nominated by US President Donald Trump in February 2025 to handle diplomacy in the region, with the nomination confirmed by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in October 2025.

Kapur has replaced Donald Lu to hold this top US diplomatic post covering South Asia.