The End of an Era

Earlier today, I first learned of the death of former US Ambassador to Bangladesh William B. Milam. Given Bill’s declining health over the past months, his death was not unexpected.

It nonetheless came as a personal and professional shock to me and his many friends and colleagues around the world who mourn his passing. It is a nearly impossible task to sum up an extraordinary life that spanned nearly nine decades and included decades of global service as a diplomat and an equally impressive encore as a scholar.

So, I will not even attempt to do that here.

Instead, I want to highlight the last few years and Bill’s ceaseless efforts to call attention to the situation in Bangladesh as it slid into despotism. These efforts were followed by his equally strong determination to do all that he could to help ensure that the opportunity provided to Bangladesh’s citizens by the August 2024 fall of the Hasina regime would not be squandered.

The coincidence of his death coming on the same day as Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s swearing in after the historic February 12 elections adds a particular poignancy to this final chapter of Bill’s life.

In recent years, in addition to his role as a scholar at the Woodrow Wilson Institute, the primary vehicle that Bill chose to raise attention about Bangladesh was a small non-profit that he founded along with his close friend and collaborator Ambassador Mushfiqul Fazal Ansarey.

The name that they chose for this organization, Right to Freedom, aptly summed up its purpose -- to advocate for freedom, focusing first and foremost on his beloved Bangladesh. Together, they used this organization to encourage others in the United States to join the effort to promote a return to democracy in Bangladesh.

With the help of a small group of likeminded supporters, Bill and Mushfique worked tirelessly to raise Bangladesh’s profile in Washington and beyond. A prolific and effective writer, Bill documented increased repression in Bangladesh while Right to Freedom provided a platform for voices unable to speak out at home about what was taking place.

Bill’s advocacy earned him the ire of Bangladesh’s Awami League government and its supporters, who spread countless lies about his activities and motivations. This never really bothered Bill or stopped him from doing what he knew was right.

As anyone who knew Bill can attest, he was incapable of pursuing a hidden agenda. With Bill, you always knew where you stood and he was never shy about speaking his mind -- whether in private with his friends, in the many op-eds he authored in the US, Pakistan, Bangladesh and beyond, or in meetings with senior government officials around the globe.

Like many of Bangladesh’s foreign friends, Bill found inspiration in the courage of the country’s students and citizens who rose up against a tyrannical and brutal government in July and August 2024 to fight for their freedom. Bill had served as Ambassador in Bangladesh during the final days of the Ershad era and later saw the failure of attempts to build an enduring democracy.

He wrote extensively about this in his classic book on Bangladesh and Pakistan, so I won’t repeat those stories here. But as happy as he was that the Bangladeshi people had won another chance to fulfill the dreams of the country’s founders, he never stopped worrying that this latest opportunity too might be squandered.

I was privileged to be able to accompany Bill on his final visit to Bangladesh, which took place in March 2025. This was Bill’s first visit to the country in over a decade, as his criticism of the previous government had made him unwelcome.

It was inspiring to see the reception that Bill received from his many friends, admirers and well-wishers, who seized every possible opportunity to spend time with him. While his health had already begun to fade, he insisted on following a grueling schedule that was difficult for others decades younger to endure.

Perhaps sensing this would be his last visit to Bangladesh, Bill was determined to squeeze everything he could out of his time in country.

Soon after his return from that last visit to Dhaka, Bill suffered a series of health setbacks that forced him to step down as president of Right to Freedom.

Till the end of his life, however, he followed events in the country as closely as he could and continued to offer encouragement to those working to build a new Bangladesh.

It has been heartwarming to see the outpouring of emotion and tributes to Bill that have come out since his passing became known. These include testimonials from those who knew him well and worked by his side over the years, as well as from those he never met but who were familiar with his writing and speaking.

All of us who care about Bangladesh have lost a great friend and mentor and a strong voice for the country and its people. The best way we can honor his life and legacy is to continue his life’s work.

May he rest in peace.

Jon F. Danilowicz is a retired American diplomat of the Department of State.