“Bangladeshi Community Leader and Activist Zahid F. Sarder Saddi discussed Bangladesh’s future with members of United States Congress at Capitol Hill, broaching topics related to human rights, fair elections, and progression of the allyship between the United States and the people of Bangladesh.”

WASHINGTON D.C. – Zahid F. Sarder Saddi congratulated and welcomed the Co-Chairs of the newly inaugurated U.S. Congressional Bangladesh Caucus. “We welcome all parties’ endless support of the United States Congressional Bangladesh Caucus’ commitment to the 165 million people of Bangladesh. This caucus will build better relations between Bangladesh and the US while holding the Bangladeshi people’s best interest at heart. We hope the US Congressional Bangladesh Caucus strengthens the United States-Bangladesh relationship on the basis of shared democratic values to address alleviating major issues, including climate change, human rights, democratic governance, and humanitarian challenges,” says Bangladeshi Community Leader Zahid F. Sarder Saddi, Foreign Advisor to the former Prime Minister of Bangladesh Khaleda Zia.

Bangladeshi Community Activist Zahid F. Sarder Saddi personally met with the United States Congressional Bangladesh Caucus, including Co-Chairs Congressman Steve Chabot (Republican) and Congressman Gerry Connolly (Democrat) on the International Day of Victims of Enforced Disappearances. The meetings took place at the respective offices of the congressmen on Capitol Hill.

“Zahid F. Sarder Saddi congratulates the newly inaugurated US Congressional Bangladesh Caucus on tremendous strides in establishing better foreign policy.”

During the meetings, Bangladesh’s former Foreign Advisor Zahid F. Sarder Saddi briefed the US lawmakers on the socio-economic development that has taken place under the capable leadership of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. There remains a clear opportunity to provide assistance to the people of Bangladesh to return the country to its former glory.

Congressman Steve Chabot (Republican-Ohio), the Ranking Member of the influential US House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific, expressed his readiness to lead the proposed caucus as Co-Chair of the Congressional Bangladesh Caucus.

Zahid F. Sarder Saddi and the Bangladeshi community leaders sought the support of Congressman Chabot to revitalize the relationship between the Bangladeshi people and the United States. “I told the lawmakers of the critical nature of Bangladesh’s political situation, now is the time for the USA to involve itself more in Bangladesh’s affairs,” Bangladesh’s former foreign advisor Saddi said. 

Influential US Representative Steve Chabot,  who was present in Dhaka at moments of crisis, said he is a great admirer of the people of Bangladesh. Previously, the congressman visited as a Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific to talk discussed political turbulence, democratic governance, free-fair credible election, and the overall security of Bangladesh. During his visit to Bangladesh, Steve Chabot met with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Opposition Leader and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, civil society representatives, representatives of other political parties, and the media. He is a strong supporter of victims of Rohingya issues in Bangladesh.

That same day, Bangladeshi-American Community Leader Zahid F. Sarder Saddi met with Congressman and Co-Chair of Congressional Bangladesh Caucus Gerry Connolly (Democrat-Virginia) to thank him for his efforts to help secure COVID-19 vaccines for the people of the Bangladeshi community during the pandemic. The congressman promotes accountability for human rights abuses, extrajudicial killings, torture, or other gross violations of internationally recognized human rights. Zahid F. Sarder Saddi praises the congressman for his uncompromising support of all people of Bangladesh across faiths and ethnicities.

Zahid F. Sarder Saddi and Bangladeshi-American Community Leaders are also scheduled to meet with newly inaugurated Congressional Bangladesh Caucus Co-Chairs Rep. Joe Wilson (Republican-South Carolina) and Rep. Dwight Evans (Democrat-Pennsylvania) to discuss issues of mutual interest between Bangladesh and the United States.

Zahid F. Sarder Saddi also met with New York Congressman Hakeem Jeffries at his Washington office in the United States Congress and thanked him for his unflinching support of the Bangladeshi community. Representative of New York’s 8th Congressional District, Hakeem Jeffries has spoken about the Bangladeshi community’s important role in New York City. Rep. Jeffries says that he is proud to represent the Bangladeshi-American community of New York City. 

Bangladeshi Activist Zahid F. Sarder Saddi publicly voiced appreciation to the US House Representatives for their support and passion for providing care for the Bangladeshi people. Saddi has urged the United States to be more involved in the country’s democratic governance saying it would simultaneously secure its stake in the Indo-Pacific region. “If we are able to establish a democratic governance, the US could commence activity at the Bay of Bengal and later we can monitor Indo-Pacific activity from there,” he told a media briefing a day after a meeting with influential US lawmakers.   

Significantly, no other country in the world commits more forces to United Nations Peacekeeping than Bangladesh.

Bangladesh has a per capita income higher than its neighbors in South Asia and the United States is one of Bangladesh’s most important trading partners, with approximately 19-20% of its exports destined for the United States.

Also, bilateral trade between the United States and Bangladesh was over $10 billion in 2021. According to the United States Census Bureau, over 200,000 people of Bangladeshi origin live in America.

Promoting educational exchanges between Bangladesh and the United States benefits both nations, and with approximately 10,000 students from Bangladesh studying in the United States, the country places 8th in the world in this category.

Zahid F. Sarder Saddi has been working with US Congress advocating for the rights of the people of Bangladesh for over 25 years. He is well-versed in Indo-Pacific foreign affairs and has met with community and government leaders from around the world. Through work with the Bangladeshi community, collaborating with US Congress, United Nations, Woodrow Wilson Center, Democracy International, and the Prestigious Heritage Foundation, Zahid F. Sarder Saddi has shown a consistent track record of care for the well-being of members of the Bangladeshi community around the world.

About:

Zahid F. Sarder Saddi is an influential civil society leader, humanitarian, and advocate for Bangladesh and its people. He helps Bangladeshi expatriates assimilate into life in the United States while also preserving their own values and traditions. Zahid F. Sarder Saddi works with several organizations and holds a special passion for helping the Bangladeshi community in the United States and around the world.

To learn more about Zahid F. Sarder Saddi, please visit www.ZahidFSarderSaddi.com or reach out to Zahid F. Sarder Saddi at [email protected]