US President Donald Trump has congratulated Bangladesh’s newly elected Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on what he described as a “historic election” victory and called for accelerated progress on bilateral trade and defence cooperation between the two nations.

In a letter dated February 18, 2026, Trump extended his congratulations to Rahman on assuming office as Prime Minister of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh and expressed optimism about deepening strategic ties. The correspondence, confirmed by the White House and released by Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, underscored Washington’s intention to maintain strong diplomatic and economic engagement with Dhaka.

Highlighting the broader Indo-Pacific framework, Trump noted that the US-Bangladesh partnership is grounded in mutual respect and shared interests in promoting a free and open region where sovereign nations can thrive. He stressed that sustaining momentum in trade relations would be a priority for his administration.

“As you begin your term, I hope you will help me maintain the tremendous momentum in our trade relationship through the implementation of our Agreement on Reciprocal Trade, which benefits farmers and workers in both of our countries,” Trump wrote, signalling a desire for continued economic collaboration.

Beyond trade, the US President emphasised defence cooperation as a key pillar of bilateral ties. He urged the Bangladeshi government to take decisive steps toward finalising pending defence agreements that would provide Dhaka’s military access to advanced American equipment.

“I also hope you will take decisive action to complete the routine defence agreements that would finally give your military access to high-end, American-made equipment – the best in the world,” Trump stated, reflecting Washington’s push for deeper strategic alignment in the security domain.

Trump further expressed confidence in US diplomatic representation in Dhaka, reaffirming his support for Ambassador Brent Christensen and noting the opportunity for both countries to enhance prosperity and security through closer collaboration.

The letter concluded on a cordial note, with Trump wishing Rahman success in his tenure and expressing eagerness to work together to strengthen ties between the United States and Bangladesh in the years ahead.