Bangladesh Seeks Role in Trump-Proposed Gaza Stabilization Force

Dhaka/Washington — Bangladesh’s interim government has expressed its interest in joining a proposed International Stabilization Force (ISF) for Gaza, an initiative put forward by former U.S. President Donald Trump, according to a statement from the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing.
The interest was conveyed by National Security Adviser Khalilur Rahman during meetings in Washington with U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Alison Hooker and Assistant Secretary of State Paul Kapur. In response, the United States indicated its willingness to work jointly with Bangladesh on what it described as an “important” issue.
However, the U.S. administration has not publicly disclosed any details regarding the discussions or the proposed force.
The meetings also addressed a range of bilateral issues, including easing visa restrictions for Bangladeshi businesspeople, the Rohingya refugee crisis, and Bangladesh’s upcoming parliamentary elections.
The development comes amid growing debate in Bangladesh, particularly as the United States recently included Bangladesh in a list of countries subject to a new visa bond requirement, set to take effect on January 21. Under the policy, Bangladeshi visa applicants may be required to deposit between $5,000 and $15,000.
Analysts say the government’s announcement has raised questions about the basis on which Bangladesh expressed interest, noting that the structure, mandate, and authority of the proposed Gaza force remain unclear.
Former ambassador Humayun Kabir told BBC Bangla that Bangladesh traditionally participates only in United Nations–mandated peacekeeping missions and would likely consider joining the Gaza force if it operates under UN authorization.
The proposed stabilization force, supported by a UN Security Council resolution adopted in November, is intended to oversee disarmament in Gaza, including weapons collection and the dismantling of military infrastructure. Pakistan has also expressed interest in contributing troops, though it has stressed that no final decision can be made until the force’s mandate is clearly defined.
Experts suggest Bangladesh’s move may be part of a broader effort to strengthen ties with the Trump administration at a time when Dhaka is under pressure over trade imbalances, tariffs, migration issues, and visa restrictions.
Despite assurances from analysts that participation would not pose significant geopolitical risks, they caution that the government must carefully manage domestic sentiment and relations within the Muslim world and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
For now, Bangladesh’s potential involvement remains uncertain, as key aspects of the proposed Gaza stabilization force have yet to be finalized.