Online Desk: US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas has assured that his country will make every effort to assist Bangladesh in reaching its goals. “The United States has been and will continue to be Bangladesh’s companion on its road to becoming a successful, liberal and developed country,” he said in a video message celebrating his first year in office on Wednesday.

In the video, the US envoy said he is happy to celebrate his one-year anniversary and that he has visited many beautiful places in Bangladesh, including the Sundarbans, Rajshahi and Cox’s Bazar. Haas said he has learned to love singara, biriyani and sweet curd, and met Bangladeshi people from all walks of life.

Stating that Bangladesh has made astonishing achievements, he said: “When I think about Bangladesh, an analogy comes to mind: I am riding in a car in which movement down the road represents the passage of time. When I look in the rearview mirror, I am amazed by how far Bangladesh has come in just 51 years.” “I see a Bangladesh that has made the journey from a country with little more than its independence and its pride to a country on the cusp of graduation from the least-developed country status,” said Haas.

The US envoy hoped that Bangladesh will further develop in the next 51 years, saying: “Bangladesh has everything it needs to become a prosperous, democratic, developed country over the coming decades.” However, stating that the road ahead of Bangladesh has potholes, Haas said Bangladesh has to nourish democracy, improve governance, build institutions and educate its people in order to navigate them.

“Bangladesh and its people are steering this vehicle, and it is you who will determine the direction and speed at which the car travels in the future. The United States has been and will continue to accompany you on this journey. We will do everything we can to help you reach your destination,” said the US envoy. He concluded the video by saying that he will look forward to this journey together while he begins his second year as the US ambassador in Dhaka.