--- title: SR 551. Country of Bangladesh; recognize collection: bills id: 2025-2026/sr551 cite_as: SR 551, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr551 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr551.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr551/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72002 date: 2025-04-04 status: passed corpus_version: bills-2026-08-28 license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice. up: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026.md previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr550.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr552.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 94 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr551.md?full=1 bill_number: SR 551 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: Senate bill_type: resolution status_date: 2025-04-04 last_action: Senate Read and Adopted sponsors: - Sheikh Rahman - Nabilah Islam Parkes - Ed Harbison - Randal Mangham - Donzella James - Shawn Still - Nikki Merritt - Sally Harrell - Sonya Halpern - RaShaun Kemp - Nan Orrock - Jason Esteves - Emanuel Jones - Russ Goodman - Sam Watson - Harold Jones text_version: Enrolled has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SR551/2025 upstream_id: 2019393 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - Bangladesh - international relations - Bangladeshi Americans - ceremonial resolution --- # SR 551. Country of Bangladesh; recognize ## Text 25 LC 112 3637 Senate Resolution 551 By: Senators Rahman of the 5th, Islam Parkes of the 7th, Harbison of the 15th, Mangham of the 55th, James of the 28th and others A RESOLUTION Recognizing and commending the Country of Bangladesh; and for other purposes.1 WHEREAS, Bangladesh declared its independence on March 26, 1971, was recognized by2 the United States on April 4, 1972, and this year celebrates 53 years of diplomatic relations;3 and4 WHEREAS, more than 30,000 Bangladeshi Americans reside in the S tate of Georgia and5 approximately half a million live and work in the United States; and6 WHEREAS, for the past 53 years, the United States and Banglades h have maintained a7 strong and cooperative relationship, engaging closely on a wide range of issues, including8 trade, economic development, security, governance, and global affairs; and9 WHEREAS, the ties between the United States and Bangladesh go b eyond the10 government-to-government level as people-to-people contacts and commercial relationships11 are increasing over the years, and both countries are willing to see this relationship grow in12 depth and dimension over the next 53 years; and13 S. R. 551 - 1 - 25 LC 112 3637 WHEREAS, Bangladesh and the United States share similar views o n many international14 issues, including maintaining international peace, security, an d stability; the fight against15 terrorism and violent extremism; human rights; the 2030 agenda for sustainable16 development; climate change; and many more; and17 WHEREAS, Bangladesh has made significant socioeconomic progress in the last 53 years,18 including increased food production, disaster resilience, poverty alleviation, improved health19 and education, and women's empowerment; and20 WHEREAS, for more than a decade, Bangladesh has remained one of the fastest growing21 economies in the world, and its economic growth is not only benefitting its own people but22 is also contributing to the peace, progress, and prosperity of the region; and23 WHEREAS, the United States has been a long-standing partner of Bangladesh in this24 successful journey of economic and social development and the t wo-way trade volume25 between the two countries has been estimated at $10.6 billion in 2024; and26 WHEREAS, in 2024, a student-led movement advocated for civil service quota reforms and27 brought together the working class in Bangladesh to call for a more democratic government;28 and29 WHEREAS, we wish continued success for the new caretaker government and applaud the30 commitment to a more just fair system of government in Bangladesh.31 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body32 recognize and commend the Country of Bangladesh and extend best wishes for continued33 success.34 S. R. 551 - 2 - 25 LC 112 3637 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed35 to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the public and the36 press.37 S. R. 551 - 3 - ## Summaries written by Georgia Commons The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the resolution. Quote the text, not the summary. A Georgia Senate resolution recognizes and commends the Country of Bangladesh, marking 53 years of diplomatic relations with the United States and honoring the Bangladeshi American community in Georgia. ### Plain-language summary This resolution from the Georgia Senate honors the Country of Bangladesh on the occasion of 53 years of diplomatic relations with the United States, which began after Bangladesh declared independence in 1971. It notes that more than 30,000 Bangladeshi Americans live in Georgia and describes cooperation between the two countries on trade, security, and development, citing about $10.6 billion in two way trade in 2024. The resolution also references a 2024 student led movement in Bangladesh that pushed for civil service quota reforms and a more democratic government, and it expresses support for the country's new caretaker government. It closes with the Senate formally recognizing and commending Bangladesh and directing the Secretary of the Senate to distribute copies to the public and press. It does not change any Georgia law. ### What it does - Formally recognizes and commends the Country of Bangladesh on behalf of the Georgia Senate. - States support for continued success of Bangladesh's new caretaker government. - Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press. - Creates no new law, funding, or penalty; it is a symbolic statement rather than a regulatory change. ### Who it affects The resolution primarily affects the Bangladeshi American community in Georgia, estimated at more than 30,000 people, and serves as a formal statement of goodwill toward the Country of Bangladesh and its government from the Georgia Senate. ### Why it matters While the resolution carries no legal or financial effect, it is a public, official statement from the Georgia Senate acknowledging Bangladesh's diplomatic ties with the United States and the Bangladeshi American community living in Georgia. ### Key provisions - The whereas clauses describe 53 years of U.S.-Bangladesh diplomatic relations since Bangladesh's 1971 independence and recognition by the U.S. in 1972. - The whereas clauses note more than 30,000 Bangladeshi Americans in Georgia and about half a million in the United States. - The whereas clauses cite an estimated $10.6 billion in two-way trade between the U.S. and Bangladesh in 2024. - The whereas clauses reference a 2024 student-led movement calling for civil service quota reforms and a more democratic government in Bangladesh. - The resolving clause formally recognizes and commends Bangladesh and wishes it continued success. - The final clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to make copies available to the public and press. ## Status - Status: Passed (2025-04-04) - Last action: Senate Read and Adopted (2025-04-04) - Sponsors: Sheikh Rahman, Nabilah Islam Parkes, Ed Harbison, Randal Mangham, Donzella James, Shawn Still, Nikki Merritt, Sally Harrell, Sonya Halpern, RaShaun Kemp, Nan Orrock, Jason Esteves, Emanuel Jones, Russ Goodman, Sam Watson, Harold Jones - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72002 > The history, votes, and amendments (94 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr551.md?full=1