Speeches and Remarks

Ambassador Moriarty Visits Humanitarian Assistance Exercises in Kurigram 

Remarks by Ambassador James F. Moriarty at the Closing Ceremony of  U.S.-Bangladesh Joint Military Humanitarian Assistance Exercises in Kurigram

August 11, 2009

66th Infantry Division Commander, Brigadier General Sabbir-Ul-Karim, members of the press, ladies and gentlemen: Assalamu Alaikum and good afternoon.

I am very pleased to join you here today for the closing ceremony of the Engineering Capabilities exercise or ENCAP and the Medical Civil Action Program or MEDCAP. These exercises continue the tradition of close cooperation between the U.S. and Bangladeshi militaries.

Over the last two weeks, U.S. military engineers and the Bangladesh Army jointly built schools for more than five hundred children in the Chilmari Upazilla:  the Char Shakhahti School and the Char Radha Ballab School here.  Medical personnel from the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and the Bangladesh Army Medical Directorate provided free basic medical and dental care to Bangladeshis living in the Rangpur District. 

Working together, each day they provided more than 1,000 people medical treatment that improved their lives. These exercises provide a wonderful forum for Americans to share information and ideas with the Bangladeshi military on engineering and medical issues. 

One immediate goal of this exercise is to increase the interoperability between the military engineer and medical departments of the Bangladesh Army and the U.S. Military.  We hope that this exercise will pave the way for further discussions between the U.S. and Bangladeshi militaries and for future exercises similar to this one.  These exercises are an example of the productive and mutually beneficial relationship between the United States and Bangladesh. 
The U.S. stands ready to assist as Bangladesh strengthens its democracy, prosperity, and stability. Over the last 37 years, personnel from the U.S. military, USAID and the State Department have worked hand-in-hand with their Bangladeshi counterparts on a wide range of important issues.  Whether developing critical infrastructure, improving the lives of ordinary citizens or helping recover from natural disasters, such as the devastating Cyclone Sidr nearly two years ago, the U.S. has sought to provide Bangladesh support and expertise.  I am proud to declare that the ENCAP and MEDCAP are a resounding success.

Congratulations to all those participating in the exercise and thank you for providing critical educational support and medical care to the people of Bangladesh.