Atul Keshap, current president of the U.S.-India Business Council and a former U.S. diplomat, has been named President of the U.S.-Bangladesh Business Council (USBBC) by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce (USCC).
“Bangladesh is one of the most exciting markets in the world right now and one of the most inspiring development stories of the past two decades,” Keshap said in a press release issued April 27 by USCC.
"Bangladesh’s anticipated graduation from LDC (least-developed countries) status in 2026 presents a potent moment for the American business community to expand their ambitions in the nation," Keshap said, "and for the U.S. and Bangladesh to shape a forward-looking trade vision geared towards a new and rising Bangladesh.”
Nisha Biswal, USCC senior vice president for International Strategy and Global Initiatives, congratulated Keshap on his expanded role and praised his expertise of geopolitics and global markets in the world’s fastest-growing economies, the release reports.
“Atul’s deep knowledge of South Asia and his extensive experience on the Indo-Pacific will help our member companies maximize investments and opportunities in these dynamic and fast-growing economies,” Biswal said in the news release.
Biswal has been with USCC for five years; prior to the Chamber, she was assistant secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs at the U.S. Department of State from 2013 to 2017. Biswal was recently nominated by President Joseph Biden to serve as the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the United States International Development Finance Corporation, the release reports.
Keshap’s appointment is part of his expanded role as USBBC senior vice president for South Asia, the release reports. The inaugural visit of Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of Bangladesh on May 2 was hosted by USBBC and Keshap. The event, with the theme of “U.S.-Bangladesh Economic Cooperation,” was to include advanced discussions on bilateral trade and smart growth, according to the news release.
The U.S.-Bangladesh Business Council, inaugurated by Hasina in 2021, has 40 members spanning energy, power, digital economy, financial services, digital payments, insurance, healthcare, aerospace and defense, ridesharing, food and beverages, water, and sustainability sectors, according to the release. It is among the fastest-growing bilateral business councils in the chamber’s international division.
Ambassador Keshap served in the U.S. Foreign Service for 28 years, including as the ambassador to Sri Lanka and the chargé d'affaires to India, according to the release.
