[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 57 (Wednesday, March 29, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E276]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     RECOGNIZING AND COMMENDING THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF BANGLADESH

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JOE WILSON

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 29, 2023

  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, as co-chair of the 
Congressional Bangladesh Caucus I want to recognize that 51 years ago 
on April 4, 1972, the United States recognized Bangladesh's 
independence from Pakistan.
  During the nine-month-long Bangladesh Liberation War, members of the 
Pakistan Armed Forces and pro-Pakistani militias killed hundreds of 
thousands of people and injured many more. The war for independence was 
a struggle for democracy and freedom led by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur 
Rahman.
  The economic situation facing Bangladesh as it emerged from the war 
of independence was dire. The Bengali people faced widespread poverty, 
chronic malnutrition of the masses, the dislocation of over 10 million 
people who had fled from their homes during the conflict, fragile 
banking and monetary system and inflation, which ran between 300 and 
400 percent, and low foreign exchange resources.
  The war of independence had crippled the domestic transportation 
system with roads, railways and bridges lying destroyed and damaged. 
The young country was still recovering from a severe Bhola cyclone that 
had hit the area in November 1970 and caused nearly half a million 
deaths.
  Bangladesh has made enormous strides in the last five decades from 
one of the poorest nations to having one of the fastest-growing 
economies in the world, with their GDP per Capita increasing to $2,457 
in 2021 according to the World Bank which now exceeds that of its 
regional neighbors. Since its independence in 1971, Bangladesh's 
economy has grown from $9 billion to $450 billion, life expectancy has 
risen from 47 years to 73 years, and the adult literacy rate has risen 
to more than 75 percent. The Nation has flourished in its independence.
  Bangladesh, through the leadership of current Prime Minister Sheikh 
Hasina, has made substantial socioeconomic progress in food production, 
disaster resilience, poverty reduction, improved health, education, and 
women's empowerment. Bangladesh has successfully maintained a moderate 
Muslim society and curbed extremism in the country, and its people have 
sought to maintain support for democracy and rule of law rather than 
descending into authoritarian rule of gun.
  The United States and Bangladesh have extensive cooperation on 
matters of regional and global security, counter terrorism, and climate 
change. The U.S. is the largest export market for Bangladesh and one of 
the largest sources of foreign direct investment in Bangladesh. The 
nation of Bangladesh has contributed to the U.S. economy through 
bilateral trade and international security cooperation in return.
  Bilateral trade between the United States and Bangladesh has 
increased annually with the main American exports to Bangladesh 
consisting of agricultural products, aircraft, machinery, engines, and 
iron and steel products, while American imports from Bangladesh include 
apparel, footwear, textile products, toys, games, sporting goods, 
shrimp, prawns; and agricultural products.
  Further, the American people appreciate the generous and 
indispensable role that Bangladesh performs in accepting and sheltering 
more than 1 million Rohingya people from a genocide perpetrated by its 
neighbor, Burma. The United States has contributed the largest amount 
of humanitarian aid to address this crisis, totaling more than $2 
billion.
  The American people welcome that Bangladesh is one of the world's 
largest contributors to United Nations peacekeeping efforts globally. 
Both countries seek to enhance their people-to-people and government-
to-government relationship for shared prosperity. Bangladesh has 
expressed their gratitude to the United States for contributing more 
than 100 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to the people of 
Bangladesh.
  The U.S.-Bangladesh relationship is strengthened by the Bangladeshi 
American Community and the large number of Bangladeshi students who 
come to the U.S. to study. More than 200,000 Bangladeshi Americans have 
proven themselves to be hardworking, law-abiding, and patriotic 
citizens of the United States, contributing positively to their 
communities across the country.
  Today, the American people recognize and commend the Nation and 
people of Bangladesh as they celebrate 51 years of independence. The 
United States extends its sincere determination to remain a 
constructive partner of Bangladesh in achieving mutual economic, 
social, and national security objectives now and into the future.

                          ____________________