<div style="text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size: 1rem;"><b>US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has congratulated the people of Bangladesh on the occasion of Independence Day on March 26.</b></span><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">On behalf of the United States of America, Blinken extended warm wishes to all Bangladeshis on this special day.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The US looks forward to enhancing the partnership and people-to-people ties between the two countries in the year ahead, Blinken said in a statement.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"The United States is proud to partner with Bangladesh on many of today’s most pressing issues, including combating climate change, advancing economic development, responding to the Rohingya refugee crisis, supporting peacekeeping operations worldwide, and addressing global health challenges," he said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Blinken said the partnership plays an important role in ensuring a free, open, secure, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region, reports unb</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"As Bangladesh celebrates another year of independence, we reaffirm our commitment to strengthening democratic governance and protecting human rights – efforts which will increase Bangladesh’s prosperity," he said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/fas</div>