Dhaka: US Ambassador in Dhaka Marcia Bernicat on Wednesday said trust, will and mechanisms in place always help resolve any irritants if these arise in a relationship.

“Irritants can always arise in a relationship. The key is to have the trust, will and mechanisms in place to ensure they can be resolved. I think our two countries have what we need to do just that,” she said while responding to a question from UNB.

Bernicat joined a Facebook chat on the Bangladesh-US relationship marking the second anniversary of her arrival in the country.

She said the US work with all Bangladeshis to ensure that a “more inclusive political process” exist in Bangladesh.

“We don’t back any particular political party in Bangladesh. We work with all Bangladeshis to help ensure there is a more inclusive political process,” she said.

The US Ambassador said there are many factors both positive and negative that shape migration around the globe, such as climate change, family ties, economic opportunity, political violence and terrorism.

“I’m confident that the nature of the Bangladeshi people and their culture, coupled with the government's resolve to fight terrorism, will defeat the terrorist threat here,” she said.

Responding to a question on restoration of US trade preference programs - Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), she said there has been “tremendous progress” on safety issues. “But much work remains to be done on workers’ rights.”

Bernicat said they will need to wait and see what the new Trump Administration's position will be on the GSP and trade in general.

The US Ambassador said the two thirds of US Ambassadors who are career Foreign Service Officers will continue their jobs though political appointees will step down.

 “It is partially true. Every president, regardless of party affiliation, asks those Ambassadors who are political appointees of their predecessors to step down,” she said when asked whether President Donald Trump will withdraw all Ambassadors appointed by the then Obama Administration.

The Ambassador also said the two thirds of Ambassadors who are career Foreign Service Officers “such as myself, usually stay.”

She said the US government has been a strong proponent for human rights everywhere in the world, including Myanmar.

“The US urges the government of Myanmar on a regular basis to respect the rights of religious and ethnic minority groups and calls for improvements to their freedom of movement, access to social services, access to livelihoods and fair treatment under the law when they are subject to abuses,” she added.

Bernicat said the US is an enthusiastic supporter of the democratic process and we work with governments and people around the world, including Bangladesh, to help strengthen that process.

Regarding visas, she said in fact thousands of Bangladeshis receive visas every year. “There are also currently over 6500 Bangladeshi students studying in U.S. schools. Tourism is the 2nd largest industry in the U.S., so we welcome visitors of all kinds and from all countries.”

She mentioned that the US does an amazing amount of work with NGO and government partners for the citizens in Bangladesh, especially through their many development projects.

Bernicat said the past two years have been challenging and enjoyable and she looks forward to what the next year will offer.