Tracey Ann Jacobson, Charge d’affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Dhaka, paid a courtesy call on Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, the Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant on the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, and they discussed plans to grow Bangladesh’s tech sector. The meeting made the main point early: Bangladesh is open to responsible tech investment and wants help building data centers, cloud services and stronger digital networks. Faiz invited international investors, including U.S. companies, to explore projects and partnerships that can support those aims. He also said the government will launch a Digital Public Infrastructure project with backing from the World Bank, a move that could help people and businesses access more public services online. Both sides noted that clear rules and safe systems are important so users can trust digital services. The talks covered ways to expand bilateral cooperation in emerging technology, skills training and cyber security. Data protection and a Personal Data Privacy Ordinance came up as steps to protect people and guide companies on how to handle data responsibly. They also spoke about upgrading the police communication system to make public safety work more smoothly and to speed up responses when needed. Jacobson praised steps taken toward digital change and offered continued technical help and knowledge sharing from the United States. She said the U.S. stands ready to support projects that promote transparency, jobs and local growth. The meeting included key officials who helped make the discussion practical and focused. Shish Haider Chowdhury, Secretary of the Information and Communication Technology Division, joined the talks, along with David, Deputy Counselor for Political and Economic Affairs and Chief of the Political Section at the U.S. Embassy, and Paul Frost, Commercial Counselor at the U.S. Embassy. The group reviewed existing cooperation and mapped out areas for future work in areas like cloud services, artificial intelligence and startup support. They discussed how to attract investment while also helping young professionals gain the skills they need to run new systems. Both sides kept a positive, practical tone, focusing on clear steps that can be taken soon and on programs that can grow over time. Officials agreed that working with international partners can speed innovation, build local capacity and make Bangladesh a stronger tech hub. The meeting sent a simple message: with the right partnerships, good rules and focused skill building, Bangladesh can expand services, support startups and give citizens better access to online tools and services.
