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Published : 29 Dec 2025, 07:00 PM
Ambassador Tracey Ann Jacobson, the US chargé d’affaires to Bangladesh, has paid a farewell call on Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus.
On Monday, they held wide-ranging talks that underscored Washington’s support for the country’s parliamentary elections and its reform initiatives.
The meeting, held at the State Guest House Jamuna, covered preparations for the parliamentary elections and referendum scheduled for February, alongside discussions on trade, civil aviation, labour reforms initiated by the interim government, and the broader state of bilateral relations.
Jacobson, who is returning home after a year-long posting in Dhaka, praised Yunus’s leadership over the past 17 months and reiterated the United States government’s support for the February polls.
Yunus reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to delivering a free, fair and peaceful election, saying full preparations were under way to ensure the success of the polls.
“We are fully prepared,” the chief advisor said, adding that any attempts to disrupt peace in the run-up to the elections would be dealt with firmly.
The US chargé d’affaires commended the interim government’s reform drive, singling out the labour laws as “truly remarkable and extraordinary”, and said the changes would help attract greater foreign direct investment to Bangladesh.
She also welcomed the government’s decision to withdraw 45 of the 46 cases filed against labour leaders under previous administrations, describing the move as a significant step towards restoring confidence in labour rights.
In response, Yunus described the new labour ordinance as an “excellent piece of legislation”, noting that leading Bangladeshi labour activists have publicly welcomed the reforms, along with the interim government’s ratification of key International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions.
The two sides also discussed funding for humanitarian assistance to Rohingya refugees. Yunus thanked the United States for its continued support for the displaced community.
As the meeting concluded, the chief advisor expressed his appreciation for Jacobson’s “critical work” during her tenure, describing her as a “friend to Bangladesh”, and extending an invitation for her to visit again in the future.
