Peter D. Haas

Peter D. Haas
Haas in 2022
United States Ambassador to Bangladesh
In office
March 15, 2022 – July 23, 2024
PresidentJoe Biden
Preceded byEarl R. Miller
Succeeded byHelen LaFave (acting)
Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs
Acting
In office
January 20, 2021 – August 27, 2021
PresidentJoe Biden
Preceded byManisha Singh
Succeeded byMatt Murray
Consul General of the United States, Mumbai
In office
2011–2014
Personal details
EducationIllinois Wesleyan University (BA)
London School of Economics (MSc)

Peter D. Haas is an American diplomat who served as the United States ambassador to Bangladesh from March 2022 to July 2024.[1] Haas previously served as acting assistant secretary of state for economic and business affairs.

Education

Haas earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in German and international studies from Illinois Wesleyan University in 1988 and a Master of Science in economics from the London School of Economics.[2]

Career

After joining the United States Foreign Service, Haas was first assigned to the U.S. embassy in Morocco as an economic officer. Haas also served as a desk officer for one year in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and was an economic officer in the Embassy of the United States, London. From 2011 to 2014, served as consul general of the United States, Mumbai. From 2014 to 2017, Haas worked for the United States mission to the OECD, including as acting permanent representative in 2017 and 2018. Haas then relocated to Washington, D.C., where he worked as acting deputy assistant secretary of state for trade policy and negotiations, deputy assistant secretary for trade policy and negotiations, and acting assistant secretary of state for economic and business affairs.[3][4]

United States ambassador to Bangladesh

Credential Ceremony

On July 9, 2021, President Joe Biden nominated Haas to be the next United States Ambassador to Bangladesh.[3] The Senate Foreign Relations Committee held hearings on his nomination on October 20, 2021. His nomination was favorably reported by the committee on November 3, 2021. Haas was confirmed by the United States Senate on December 18, 2021, via voice vote.[5]

On March 15, 2022, he presented his credentials to the President of Bangladesh, Abdul Hamid.[6] In December 2022, he had to cut short a visit to Maayer Daak, an advocacy group for victims of enforced disappearance, after pro-government mob tried to storm the venue.[7] He oversaw the imposition of visa restrictions on Bangladeshi government officials and politicians in 2023 to ensure a fair general election in 2024.[8] He had also warned that visa restrictions might be imposed on media personnel in Bangladesh.[9][10] Haas and the United States call for fair election was not well received in India which supports the current Awami League government in Bangladesh led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.[11][12]

In July 2024, when the Bangladesh quota reform movement protests against the ruling Awami League government were ongoing, Haas resigned his post.[13]

Personal life

Haas speaks French and German.

References

  1. ^ "New US Ambassador Peter Haas arrives in Dhaka". The Daily Star. 1 March 2022.
  2. ^ "Peter Haas". United States Department of State. Retrieved 2021-10-15.
  3. ^ a b "President Biden Announces His Intent to Nominate Four Individuals to Serve as Ambassadors". The White House. 2021-07-09. Retrieved 2021-07-09.
  4. ^ Knutson, Jacob (9 July 2021). "Biden nominates Eric Garcetti as ambassador to India". Axios. Retrieved 2021-07-09.
  5. ^ "PN786 — Peter D. Haas — Department of State 117th Congress (2021-2022)". US Congress. 18 December 2021. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
  6. ^ @usembassydhaka (March 15, 2022). "Today, the new U.S. Ambassador to Bangladesh, Peter Haas, presented his credentials to the President of Bangladesh, Md. Abdul Hamid" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  7. ^ "Protesters Drive US Envoy from Meeting with Families of Missing Bangladeshis". VOA. 2022-12-20. Retrieved 2023-10-01.
  8. ^ "Visa curbs apply to those trying to gag media: Peter Haas". The Business Standard. 2023-09-30. Retrieved 2023-10-01.
  9. ^ প্রতিবেদক, নিজস্ব (2023-10-01). "গণমাধ্যমে মার্কিন ভিসা নীতি: ১৯০ বিশিষ্ট নাগরিকের নিন্দা". Prothomalo (in Bengali). Retrieved 2023-10-01.
  10. ^ "Media to be included as well in visa restrictions policy: Peter Haas - National - observerbd.com". The Daily Observer. Retrieved 2023-10-01.
  11. ^ "Is the US Coming Around to Backing India's Position in Bangladesh?". thediplomat.com. Retrieved 2023-10-01.
  12. ^ Sharma, Pranay (2023-08-20). "If Sheikh Hasina loses January election, Bangladesh could face prolonged political and economic instability". Frontline. Retrieved 2023-10-01.
  13. ^ Hasib, Nurul (2024-07-25). "Peter Haas leaves Bangladesh quietly". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 2024-07-28.
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by United States Ambassador to Bangladesh
2022–2024 		Vacant