Newly appointed United States Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent T. Christensen formally presented his credentials to President Mohammed Shahabuddin at Bangabhaban on Thursday, marking the official start of his tenure in Dhaka.
In a statement following the ceremony, Ambassador Christensen expressed his honour in assuming the role and highlighted the deep-rooted partnership between the two nations.
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โToday I had the honour of presenting my Ambassadorial credentials to President Shahabuddin. The United States is proud to call Bangladesh a friend. In over 50 years of partnership, we have worked together to promote regional stability, economic growth benefiting both our countries, and the sovereignty of our great nations. I look forward to continuing this work and further strengthening the US-Bangladesh relationship,โ he said.
The presentation of credentials comes just days after Christensen’s arrival in Dhaka on January 12, following his confirmation by the US Senate on December 18, 2025.
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A career member of the Senior Foreign Service, Christensen brings extensive experience to the post, including a prior assignment in Bangladesh from 2019 to 2021, where he served as Counsellor for Political and Economic Affairs at the US Embassy in Dhaka.
During that earlier stint in Dhaka, Christensen advised the Ambassador on all facets of US-Bangladesh relations. He oversaw significant initiatives, including a $500 million refugee assistance program for Rohingya displaced persons, one of the State Departmentโs largest counterterrorism programs in the region, and an $11 billion commercial advocacy portfolio aimed at boosting trade and investment.
After his departure, Peter Haas, under the Biden administration, was actively coordinating the political parties, NGOs, and student groups to wage a strong movement against the Awami League government, leading to its ouster after a month-long anarchy.
His familiarity with Bangladesh dates back even further, as he previously served as Bangladesh Country Officer in the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs at the US Department of State. Christensenโs broader career includes high-level roles such as Senior Official performing the duties of Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security (JanuaryโOctober 2025), Foreign Policy Advisor to the Commander of United States Strategic Command (2022โ2025), and assignments in the Philippines, El Salvador, Vietnam, and various domestic positions focused on Asia-Pacific policy and arms transfers.
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Analysts note that Christensenโs appointment arrives at a time of heightened US attention to Bangladeshโs growing defense and infrastructure ties with China. During his Senate Foreign Relations Committee confirmation hearing in October 2025, Christensen addressed concerns about Beijingโs expanding footprint in South Asia. He pledged, if confirmed, to โengage with the Bangladeshi government and the military to clearly articulate the risks from Chinese activity, involvement with their military, activities in their maritime domain, and in their critical infrastructure,โ while emphasising the benefits of a closer US partnership, particularly in military-to-military cooperation.
This stance aligns with broader US strategic objectives in the Indo-Pacific to offset Chinese influence through enhanced security ties, economic alternatives, and support for regional sovereignty. Christensenโs prior experience in Dhaka, where he dealt directly with political, economic, and security issues amid evolving regional alignments, positions him to advance these priorities effectively.
President Shahabuddin welcomed the ambassador and expressed hopes for deepened cooperation in areas such as trade, education, culture, and mutual security interests. The ceremony underscores the continued importance of US-Bangladesh relations in promoting stability and prosperity in South Asia.
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