Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has expressed grief over the death of William B Milam, former US ambassador to Bangladesh and a renowned diplomat specialising in South Asia.
Milam died on Tuesday in Sacramento, California. He was 89 years old.
Expressing condolences on behalf of BNP following the death of the veteran diplomat, Mirza Fakhrul said Milam possessed deep knowledge and experience of South Asian geopolitics and contemporary issues concerning Bangladesh.
Milam joined the US State Department in 1962, strengthened US-Bangladesh relations through his dedicated leadership and service from 1990 to 1993.
Fakhrul further stated that Milam’s contribution to organising “Operation Sea Angel”, which played a vital role in saving thousands of lives following the devastating cyclone and floods in Bangladesh in 1991, will remain in memory.
Extending heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family members of William B Milam, the condolence message added that Milam continued to work to strengthen US-Bangladesh relations even after his tenure as ambassador concluded.
The diplomat had visited Dhaka as recently as March this year. His death marks the end of a longtime experienced and familiar diplomat’s engagement with Bangladesh.
According to US embassy sources, following retirement, William B Milam served as editor of the US-based opinion quarterly South Asia Perspectives. He was president of the US-based human rights organisation Right to Freedom. He was a senior scholar at the Wilson Centre, a Washington DC-based think tank.
