US Department of State
Bangladeshi American data scientist Dr. Rumman Chowdhury among US Science Envoys for 2024
The US Department of State has selected four distinguished scientists to serve as Science Envoys for 2024.
They are Dr. Rumman Chowdhury, Dr. Stephanie “Steffi” Diem, Dr. Sian Proctor, and Dr. Dawn Wright.
Through the US Science Envoy Program, eminent American scientists and engineers leverage their expertise and networks to forge connections and identify opportunities for sustained international cooperation to advance solutions to shared challenges, champion innovation, and demonstrate America’s scientific leadership and technical ingenuity.
The scientists selected to participate in 2024 make up the first all-female cohort in the history of the US Science Envoy Program, said the US Department of State.
The US Science Envoy program was established by the Secretary of State in 2010.
Read: Irish Minister Simon Coveney pays homage to Father of the Nation at Dhanmondi-32
Like their 30 predecessors, the 2024 Cohort will travel as private US citizens to engage internationally with civil society as well as government interlocutors.
Science Envoys help inform the Department of State, other US government agencies, and the scientific community about opportunities for science and technology cooperation.
The State Department selected the 2024 cohort to take advantage of their expertise in key issues facing the world today: Artificial Intelligence, Fusion Energy, Civil Use of Space, and Ocean Sustainability.
Dr. Rumman Chowdhury is a data scientist and social scientist. She is the CEO of Humane Intelligence, a technology nonprofit that builds a community of practice around evaluations of artificial intelligence (AI) models.
Dr. Chowdhury is also a Responsible AI Fellow at Harvard University’s Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society.
Previously, Dr. Chowdhury served as Director of the Machine Learning Ethics, Transparency, and Accountability team at Twitter, as well as the Global Lead for Responsible AI at Accenture Applied Intelligence.
Read: UN envoy: Finding that some hostages were victims of sexual violence doesn’t justify Israeli attacks
She has earned numerous awards and accolades, including Time Magazine’s 100 most Influential People in AI, BBC’s 100 Women, Worthy Magazine’s top 100, the Bay Area’s top 40 under 40, and Forbes’ labeled her one of Five Who are Shaping AI.
Dr. Chowdhury holds two undergraduate degrees from MIT, a M.S. in Quantitative Methods of the Social Sciences from Columbia University, and a Ph.D. in political science from the University of California, San Diego.
US says will continue to take steps to deepen partnership with Bangladesh
The United States will continue to take steps to deepen partnership with Bangladesh.
"There are a number of steps that we have and will continue to take when it comes to deepening our partnership with Bangladesh," said Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel during a regular briefing at the US Department of State in Washington on January 22.
The US official made the remark when a journalist wanted to know what specific action the US is considering to deepen its partnership with Bangladesh.
Read more: No possibility of any 'diplomatic crisis' in country: Law Minister
Patel specifically mentioned cooperation in addressing climate issues and security where the US believes there is opportunity.
"Of course, through that there – we have the opportunity to also engage with non-government actors as well, which we believe is also key and critical to deepening this relationship also," Patel said.
After the formation of the new government, US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas had a meeting with Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud and discussed how the two countries would work together on issues of mutual importance such as climate change, business opportunities, and the Rohingya crisis.
“I look forward to working closely in the coming months to advance our relations based on mutual interest,” Haas said.
Read more: China keen to enhance security cooperation with Bangladesh
US rules out notion of not recognising Hasina government
The United States has ruled out any perception that it does not recognise Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s fourth straight term.
At a regular briefing at the US Department of State on January 18, a journalist asked, “So, when you say that the election results in Bangladesh were not credible, free, or fair, does this imply that the US will not recognize Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s fourth straight term?”‘
In reply, US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said, “No, no.”
US wants to see the election carried out peacefully: State Dept Spokesperson
Miller said they are now encouraging the government of Bangladesh to credibly and transparently investigate the reports of violence, to hold perpetrators accountable.
“We urge all parties to reject political violence,” he said.
Miller said the US remains concerned by the arrest of political opposition members and by the reports of irregularities on election day.
US wants to see the election carried out peacefully: State Dept Spokesperson
“We regret that not all parties participated, and we condemn the violence that took place during elections and in the months leading up to it,” he said.
On Wednesday, US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas had a meeting with Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud and discussed how the two countries would work together on issues of mutual importance such as climate change, business opportunities and the Rohingya crisis.
“I look forward to working closely in the coming months to advance our relations based on mutual interest,” Haas said.
Free, fair and peaceful’ election continues to be the focus of US’ engagement with Bangladesh govt: State Dept Spokesperson
US State Dept spokesperson says will ‘refrain from being drawn into’ internal Bangladeshi political matters
The United States has once again said it supports "free and fair" elections in Bangladesh.
"We think the future of the Bangladeshi government should be determined by its people," US Department of State Spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters at a regular media briefing on Monday (November 13, 2023) when a reporter wanted to know why the US government must discuss Bangladesh-related issues with India.
Miller said the United States is not taking a side in Bangladesh’s elections.
Read: Peter Haas has requested meetings with senior leaders of 3 major parties: US Embassy
"We do not support one political party over the other. We support free and fair elections," he added.
Miller also said, "I welcome the attempts by various reporters to draw me into internal Bangladeshi political matters, and I’m going to continue to refrain from doing so."
On Monday, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam reiterated that the next general election in Bangladesh will be held as per the constitution, regardless of “who’s doing what.”
He said election is an internal matter of the people of Bangladesh and the election will be held under the constitution and relevant laws.
The Election Commission is taking preparations to hold the next national election by January next year and is likely to announce polls schedules soon.
Read: Election will be held as per constitution regardless of ‘who’s doing what’: Shahriar Alam
Earlier, Law Minister Anisul Huq conveyed to the UN Human Rights Council that opposition party BNP’s demand for holding the next national election under a caretaker government is “completely unconstitutional and illegal.”
Mentioning Bangladesh’s independent Election Commission, he said the government is committed to hold the next national election in a “free, fair and peaceful” manner with the participation of people.
US says it takes any violence leading up to election in Bangladesh ‘incredibly seriously’
The United States has said it is closely monitoring the electoral environment in Bangladesh, leading up to January’s general election, and that it takes any incident of violence “incredibly seriously”.
“We are engaging and will continue to engage with the government, with opposition parties, with civil society, and other stakeholders to urge them to work together for the benefit of the Bangladeshi people,” Principal Deputy Spokesperson for the US Department of State, Vedant Patel, said.
Read: US says it takes any violence leading up to election in Bangladesh ‘incredibly seriously’
He made the remarks at a regular briefing on November 6 when a reporter wanted to know whether the US will ask for putting an end to the violence and participation in the election.
Patel reiterated that the US does not support any particular political party in Bangladesh.
“We don’t favor any one political party over the other. Right now our focus continues to be closely monitoring the electoral environment in Bangladesh leading up to January’s election, engaging appropriately with the government, with opposition leaders, with civil society and other stakeholders to urge them to work together for the benefit of the Bangladeshi people,” Patel said.
Responding to a question, the principal deputy spokesperson for the US Department of State said, they have an “incredibly talented” team at the embassy in Dhaka, led by an experienced ambassador who is well-versed not just working in Bangladesh, but also the broader region.
Read: COP28: Haas meets Saber with eye on Dubai
In a separate briefing at the UN headquarters on November 6, Spokesman for the UN Secretary-General, Stephane Dujarric, said that they hope for a “fair and free” election, free of violence, in Bangladesh.
“And as we said, we’ve expressed our concern about the large number of people who’ve been arrested,” he said while responding to a question.
Read: EU concerned over opposition arrests, urges all sides to reject violence
“Well, I can’t speak to why, I mean, I don’t have the details. I can’t speak to why one party did not attend the dialogue,” said the UN chief's spokesman when a journalist mentioned that the Election Commission is holding dialogues with the main political parties to meet the demands of a fair election in Bangladesh, but BNP did not attend the dialogue held on November 4.
US says it takes incidents of violence in Bangladesh very seriously, stresses importance of dialogue
The United States has said it is "closely monitoring" the electoral environment in Bangladesh leading up to January’s national election, and they take incidents of violence "very seriously".
At a regular briefing at the US Department of State on Tuesday (October 31, 2023), Spokesperson Matthew Miller said they are engaging and will continue to engage with the government, opposition, civil society, and other stakeholders to urge them to work together for the benefit of the Bangladeshi people, and to ensure free and fair elections that are conducted in a peaceful manner.
All political actors urged by UN rights body to shun violence
"We do believe that dialogue is important to achieving those goals," he said.
Miller said holding of free and fair elections is the responsibility of everyone - all political parties, voters, government, civil society, and the media.
BAF delegation visits India’s Dimapur
"And what we want in Bangladesh is the same thing the Bangladeshi people want, which are free and fair elections conducted in a peaceful manner," the US State Department spokesperson said.
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal on Tuesday said the Election Commission has no option except to hold election on time as per the constitution.
“The EC has to hold the election on time, no matter what the situation is,” the CEC told journalists after his meeting with US Ambassador Peter Haas.
Responding to a question, US State Department Spokesperson Miller said, “Let me just say that we have made clear that we expect the Government of Bangladesh, as we expect every government, to comply with their obligations under the Vienna Conventions for the safe protection of diplomats.”
British high commissioner discusses upcoming elections with AL leaders
Ahead of today’s rallies, US reiterates political violence has no place in a democracy
Ahead of political rallies of the ruling and opposition parties in Dhaka, the United States has reiterated that political violence has no place in a democracy and that the US favors no political party in Bangladesh.
"I will reiterate that political violence has no place in a democracy, and in the United States, we favor no political party," Principal Deputy Spokesperson at the US Department of State Vedant Patel said in a regular media briefing in Washington on July 27.
Also read: Thousands of BNP leaders, activists gathering at Dhaka’s Nayapaltan to join grand rally
He said they support Bangladesh’s goal of holding free, fair, and peaceful elections.
Also read: Bangladesh makes progress “in reducing constraints on investment”: US
Patel said they have also emphasized the importance of the United States and Bangladesh working together to achieve this goal.
"We certainly continue to believe that this endeavor has no space or room for political violence," he said.
Also read: US supports Bangladesh’s goal of holding a free, fair and peaceful election: State Dept
US eyeing enhanced cooperation with Bangladesh in security and trade
The United States has reiterated that they are keen to enhance relationship and cooperation with Bangladesh in key areas, including security and trade.
“Last year we celebrated an anniversary as it relates to our bilateral relationship with Bangladesh, and this year in 2023 we look forward to deepening that relationship, and there are a number of areas in which we intend to deepen that cooperation,” Principal Deputy Spokesperson at US State Department, Vedant Patel, said.
Also read: Italy to take skilled workers from Bangladesh, contain illegal migration
Responding to a question during a regular briefing at the US Department of State on June 7, he said that in addition to security cooperation, there is potential for enhanced cooperation on climate, trade and many other issues.
Also read: US consistent on the need for free, fair election in Bangladesh: White House
“So of course, this is an issue that continues to be of importance to us. I have spoken about this a great deal to some of your colleagues. One of them, of course, is the opportunity for security cooperation with Bangladesh,” Patel said when asked about boosting US engagement in counterterrorism in Bangladesh.
Also read: Won’t get into specific election results in another country, Vedant Patel says on Gazipur City Polls
US says it wants to deepen relationship, cooperation with Bangladesh
The United States said it is looking forward to deepening relationship and cooperation with Bangladesh on a number of key issues, “regardless of political party or candidates.”
"Our hope for any election taking place around the world is that they are free and fair and accessible," Vedant Patel, principal deputy spokesperson for the US Department of State, said during a press briefing on May 15 (US time) at the State Department while responding to a question.
But beyond that, he said, he has nothing else to offer insight on when it comes to “political parties or candidates or anything like that.”
Also Read: As per Vienna Convention, host country must ensure protection of all diplomatic personnel: US State Dept
He said, last year the two countries celebrated 50 years of diplomatic relations.
Earlier, US Deputy Assistant Secretary Afreen Akhter visited Bangladesh and attended the 6th Indian Ocean Conference on May 12-13.
“It’s an honor to have the opportunity to learn more about Bangladesh’s struggle for freedom and democracy," she tweeted, mentioning that the Liberation War Museum movingly conveys what Bangladeshis experienced during that time.
Also Read: US doesn’t endorse one political party over another in Bangladesh: State Department.
As per Vienna Convention, host country must ensure protection of all diplomatic personnel: US State Dept
The United States has said the safety and security of their diplomatic personnel and facilities are of utmost importance.
“So, I’m not going to get into the specifics about security details concerning the U.S. embassy or its personnel,” Vedant Patel, principal deputy spokesperson for the US Department of State, said during a press briefing on May 15 (US time) at the State Department while responding to a question.
He, however, noted that as per the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, any host country “must uphold its obligations to ensure the protection of all diplomatic mission premises and personnel and take all appropriate steps to prevent any attack on personnel.”
Read: US doesn’t endorse one political party over another in Bangladesh: State Department
Patel made the remarks after Bangladesh decided not to provide additional security escorts for a number of foreign diplomats, including the US and UK envoys, in Dhaka.
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen yesterday (May 15, 2023) said, “If they want it, they can get it in exchange for payment. We won’t provide this extra (security) escort service with taxpayers’ money.”
“In developed countries, no government provides such extra facilities,” Momen said.
Read more: US calls upcoming national election an 'internal' affair of Bangladesh
The minister said there has been no deterioration of the law and order situation that such service is required.