News Desk

Bangladesh and the United States have signed a strategic energy cooperation memorandum in Washington, marking a significant development in bilateral relations as Dhaka moves to secure diversified and sustainable energy sources amid growing global uncertainty.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on May 14 at the US Department of Energy in Washington DC, according to information released by the Bangladesh Embassy in the United States.

On behalf of Bangladesh, Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman signed the agreement, while Chris Wright represented the United States at the ceremony.

Officials described the agreement as a major step toward strengthening cooperation in the energy sector at a time when many countries are grappling with energy supply disruptions and rising market volatility linked to instability in the Middle East.

According to the Bangladesh Embassy, the MoU is expected to support Bangladesh’s long-term energy security goals by expanding access to affordable and reliable energy sources while promoting sustainable supply chain development. The agreement also opens the door for broader collaboration between the two countries in multiple areas of energy research, technology and investment.

Under the memorandum, Bangladesh and the United States will cooperate in capacity building, exchange of technical knowledge and expertise, and joint studies involving oil, natural gas, geothermal energy and bioenergy. Officials said the partnership could help Bangladesh modernize its energy infrastructure and improve technical capabilities in emerging energy sectors.

The agreement is also expected to facilitate increased imports of US liquefied natural gas (LNG), liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and other energy products at competitive prices. Analysts believe this could help Bangladesh diversify its energy import sources and reduce dependence on a limited number of suppliers in a highly volatile global market.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman described the MoU as another milestone in the growing partnership between Bangladesh and the United States. He said the agreement reflected both countries’ commitment to expanding strategic cooperation in energy and economic development.

Rahman also expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and US President Donald Trump for their support in advancing the initiative.

US Energy Secretary Chris Wright called the agreement a “historic development” in Bangladesh-US relations, emphasizing the importance of deeper energy collaboration between the two nations in addressing future economic and energy challenges.

Senior officials from the Bangladesh Embassy and representatives of the US Department of Energy attended the signing ceremony.

The latest agreement reflects Bangladesh’s broader strategy of strengthening international partnerships to ensure stable energy supplies while supporting economic growth and industrial expansion. With rising domestic energy demand and ongoing global geopolitical tensions affecting fuel markets, the cooperation framework is expected to play an important role in Bangladesh’s future energy planning and regional economic resilience.