A True Friend of Bangladesh

It is with profound sorrow that the Bangladesh Research Analysis and Information Network (BRAIN) mourns the passing of Ambassador William Bryant Milam -- a distinguished American diplomat, a respected scholar, and one of Bangladesh's most steadfast foreign friends.

Ambassador Milam's connection to Bangladesh was not a chapter of his career -- it was a lifelong commitment.

Ambassador Milam's bond with Bangladesh spanned over three decades, beginning with his tenure as United States Ambassador to Bangladesh from 1990 to 1993, a pivotal period during which the country made historic strides toward democratization following the fall of the Ershad regime.

That formative experience kindled in him a lifelong commitment to the democratic aspirations of the Bangladeshi people -- a commitment he honored with extraordinary courage and consistency until his final days.

Throughout the years of authoritarian backsliding under the Awami League regime, Ambassador Milam emerged as one of the most prominent and principled international voices speaking out against the erosion of democracy, human rights abuses, and the silencing of dissent in Bangladesh.

As president of Right to Freedom (R2F), editor of South Asia Perspectives, and senior policy scholar at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, he wrote extensively and fearlessly about the political trajectory of Bangladesh. His candor came at a personal cost -- he was effectively denied a visa to visit the country he loved for over a decade under the Hasina government.

Ambassador Milam's landmark book, Bangladesh and Pakistan: Flirting with Failure in South Asia (Columbia University Press, 2009), remains an indispensable contribution to the study of South Asian politics. In this work, he offered a clear-eyed and historically grounded assessment of President Ziaur Rahman's legacy -- recognizing Zia as the leader who rescued Bangladesh from the brink of state failure during its darkest hour following the upheavals of 1975.

His scholarly assessment that without Ziaur Rahman's stewardship during those critical years, Bangladesh might have descended into the kind of catastrophic state failure seen elsewhere in the developing world, stands as a powerful corrective against decades of politically motivated historical revisionism that sought to diminish and distort President Zia's transformative contributions to the nation.

By characterizing Zia as a leader whose pragmatism and vision saved the young nation from collapse, Ambassador Milam's rigorous academic work has provided an enduring foundation for an honest reckoning with Bangladesh's past -- one grounded in evidence rather than partisan mythology.

We at BRAIN are especially grateful that we had the privilege of honoring Ambassador Milam during what proved to be his final visit to Bangladesh in early 2025 -- a visit made possible only after the fall of the authoritarian regime following the July 2024 mass uprising.

At an iftar gathering held at Hotel Sarina in Dhaka, BRAIN recognized Ambassador Milam alongside fellow honorees Jon Danilowicz, Professor Ashok Swain, and David Bergman as "Foreign Friends of Bangladesh's Democracy" for their extraordinary contributions to the country's pro-democracy movement.

The event was attended by members of Bangladesh's interim government, leaders of the BNP, NCP, and other political parties, as well as prominent figures from civil society. It was a moment of fitting tribute -- a nation finally able to welcome back and thank one of its most steadfast allies.

Ambassador Milam received his crest with characteristic grace and warmth. Those of us present that evening witnessed a man deeply moved to be back in a country he had never stopped caring for. That visit -- his last to Bangladesh -- now takes on even greater meaning. We are grateful that he was able to return, to be celebrated, and to know how deeply his decades of friendship were felt and cherished.

Ambassador Milam's life of service -- from Stanford and the University of Michigan, through nearly four decades of distinguished diplomacy spanning Bangladesh, Pakistan, Liberia, Libya, and beyond, to his tireless post-retirement advocacy for human rights and democratic values -- exemplified the finest traditions of principled engagement with the world.

His voice was one of moral clarity in times when many chose silence.

Ambassador Milam entered the US Foreign Service in 1962 and built a career of exceptional breadth -- serving across Africa, Europe, South Asia, and the Middle East, negotiating the 1994 UN Convention to Combat Desertification, helping to rebuild Afghanistan after 9/11, and earning multiple Presidential awards for his service.

Yet among all the countries he touched, Bangladesh held a special place -- and Bangladesh held him in return.

To his family, his colleagues at Right to Freedom, the Wilson Center, and all who had the privilege of knowing him, BRAIN extends its deepest condolences. Ambassador Milam gave Bangladesh something rare: the courage of an honest witness, the pen of a fair historian, and the heart of a genuine friend.

Bangladesh has lost a true friend. The cause of democracy has lost a fearless champion. His legacy will endure in the freedom he helped defend.

May his soul rest in eternal peace.

Dr. Rumi Ahmed Khan Convenor, BRAIN

Shafiqur Rahman Executive Officer, BRAIN

Bangladesh Research Analysis and Information Network (BRAIN) bdbrain.org | [email protected]