New US Ambassador Brent Christensen Arrives in Dhaka

A career diplomat and senior member of the U.S. Foreign Service, Christensen took his official oath at the State Department in Washington on January 9. He is expected to formally present his credentials to President Mohammed Shahabuddin later this week.

Christensen is no stranger to Bangladesh, having served as the Political and Economic Counselor at the Dhaka embassy from 2019 to 2021. His appointment is seen as strategically significant given the current interim government's reform initiatives and the transition toward upcoming elections. His distinguished career includes roles as the Foreign Policy Advisor to the U.S. Strategic Command and diplomatic postings in Manila, Riyadh, and Ho Chi Minh City. He succeeds Peter Haas, filling a post that had been vacant since April 2024.