With its strategic regional context and a secular and pluralist democracy as well as its status as a moderate Islamist nation, Bangladesh is important to the United States. Although classified as a low-income nation by the World Bank, Bangladesh is a part of the "Next 11" (N-11); the term issued for nations with the largest population and lowest gross domestic product per capita, and the new emerging economies from the developing world. While the nation's growth potential and attraction to investors depends to an extent on its ability to control corruption, it is part of a group of developing nations which, along with the BRIC nations (Brazil, Russia, India, and China), will hold nearly 70% of the world's total population. In May 2013, the Office of the Spokesperson of the U.S. Department of State released the Joint Statement of the Second U.S.-Bangladesh Partnership Dialogue, highlighting the importance of the nation's development and governance, its partnership of Bangladesh with U.S. agricultural development programs, the possibility of promoting more renewable energy sources, as well as its importance in security measures, including the "continued collaboration in countering extremism, counterterrorism, security assistance, United Nations peacekeeping operations, and humanitarian assistance." U.S. policy toward Bangladesh emphasizes support for political stability and democracy, economic development, liberalized trade and investment, human rights, and some military-to-military exchange. The United States has long-standing supportive relations with Bangladesh and views Bangladesh as a moderate voice in the Islamic world. The U.S. Department of Defense's Pacific Command works closely with Bangladesh to help expand and improve Bangladesh's peacekeeping, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, and maritime security capabilities. Bangladesh is viewed by the United States as an important regional actor. The U.S. encourages Bangladesh to allow the "free movement of ideas, goods, and people" and to enhance "regional peace and prosperity." The State Department views U.S. assistance as vital to strengthening the country following its return to a democratically elected government in 2008. The Obama Administration's Foreign Operations budget request for the 2014 fiscal year seeks to support long-term development in Bangladesh by "addressing the underlying social, demographic, and economic factors that inhibit economic growth and increase vulnerability to extremism." Due to the moderate form of Islamic belief that is prevalent in Bangladesh, the country is valued for its "strong secular and democratic heritage." Bangladesh is a contributor to international security and is valued for its efforts in "countering violent extremism, assisting international peacekeeping, and improving regional connectivity." Bangladesh and the United States have a common interest in working to counter extremist Islamists and their ideology. Dhaka is a very active participant in international peace operations. Bangladesh has traditionally been and continues to be one of the largest contributors of military and police contingents to United Nations Peace Operations. As of May 2013, 8,836 U.N. police, peacekeeping troops, and U.N. military experts were contributed to United Nations peacekeeping missions. Bangladesh is situated at the northern extreme of the Bay of Bengal and could potentially be a state of increasing interest in the evolving strategic dynamics between India and China. This importance could be accentuated by the development of Bangladesh's energy reserves and by regional energy and trade routes to China and India. China has become one of Bangladesh's key suppliers of military equipment. At the same time, Bangladesh seeks closer ties and greater cooperation on a range of issues with India. The May 2013 Bangladesh-U.S. Partnership Dialogue in Dhaka sought to improve the ties between the two nations through governance programs, economic trade, security cooperation, and regional integration. The United States has promised assistance through USAID and President Obama's Global Health Initiative to improve medical detection of infectious diseases, environmentally sustainable initiatives, and nutritional programs to promote local agriculture and increase consumption. In addition, the United States seeks to increase assistance programs for law enforcement, promote business connections, and to transfer a Coast Guard vessel to the Bangladesh Navy. Moreover, U.S. representatives "participated in a roundtable discussion with government, labor, owners and buyers on labor issues in the garment sector." Workers' rights have long been a concern in Bangladesh, and U.S. attention on the issue was greatly heightened with the collapse of a Bangladesh factory that produced garments for consumers in the United States and Europe on April 24, 2013, resulting in the deaths of more than 1,100 workers. The accident is considered the deadliest accident in the history of the apparel industry. The United States has provided Bangladesh with relief from tariffs in the past, under the World Trade Organization's Generalized System of Preferences, to generate trade and economic cooperation in economically emerging nations. These trade privileges for Bangladesh were suspended in June 2013, in the aftermath of the factory disaster, due to concern about labor rights violations in Bangladesh. The goal of the suspension was to encourage Dhaka's actions towards the improvement of labor rights. On July 10, 2013, North American retailers introduced a five-year plan through the Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety, which focuses on annual inspections of 500 Bangladeshi factories. It includes 17 retailers and apparel companies including J.C. Penney Co., GAP Inc., Target, and Wal-Mart. The plan, which has raised $42 million as of July 2013, will run on company contributions. It is projected that companies will contribute up to $1 million a year for five years based on how much they produce in Bangladesh. In addition: Ten percent of the funds will be set aside to assist workers temporarily displaced by factory improvements or if a factory closes for safety reasons. The money will also support a non-governmental organization to be chosen within 30 days that will implement parts of the program. The accord seeks to address factory inspections and safety commitments; common safety standards for factories; worker training; the incorporation of worker's voices through anonymous hotlines; a governing body for the alliance; semi-annual progress reports; support for improvement of factories; and increased involvement with the Bangladeshi government, through local industry groups and worker rights organizations. The plan has been met with criticism by workers' rights groups that note that without the involvement of Bangladeshi workers, and without legal consequences for participating companies, the project cannot succeed. For additional information see CRS Report R43085, Bangladesh Apparel Factory Collapse: Background in Brief , by [author name scrubbed]. The State Department 2014 Budget Justification Document discusses U.S. assistance to Bangladesh by both account and objective. The accounts are specified in Table 1 below. Additional U.S. assistance for Bangladesh could be in the area of the environment and climate change adaptation and mitigation assistance, as the consequences of climate change for this low-lying nation may increase dramatically in the years ahead. (See " Environmental Concerns, Climate Change, and Food Security " section below.) The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is working with Bangladesh on a multi-stakeholder approach that uses a co-management model to link management authorities and local communities to achieve sustainable natural resource management and biodiversity conservation. Two USAID pilot projects have been carried out. These projects focused on the Management of Aquatic Ecosystems Through Community Husbandry and the Co-Management of Tropical Forest Resources. Under provisions in the U.S. Tropical Forest Conservation Act, the government of Bangladesh and the U.S. government have agreed to pursue a debt-for-nature swap to promote tropical forest conservation in Bangladesh. A majority of U.S. infrastructure and development assistance in Bangladesh through USAID focuses on health programs. USAID devoted $10 million in assistance in both FY2011 and FY2012 to HIV/AIDS prevention, family planning, child nutrition, and assistance for tuberculosis. USAID prioritizes care for women and children, whose health status is particularly poor. Bangladesh is a parliamentary democracy that has traditionally been led by one of two political parties, the Bangladesh National Party (BNP) and the Awami League (AL). The AL has led the government since January 2009. The AL is led by current Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina while the BNP is led by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. When in opposition, both parties have sought to regain control of the government through transport blockades, demonstrations, and general protests and strikes also known as Hartals . In June 2011, the opposition BNP Party initiated a Hartal to protest government plans to revise the caretaker government provision (see below). Political violence has long been part of the political landscape in Bangladesh. In 2004-2005, a particularly intensive set of bombings carried out by militants raised questions about political stability. Since that time Bangladesh has done much to curb militant Islamist activity. The Awami League won an overwhelming electoral victory in the 2008 election and captured 229 of 300 parliamentary seats in Bangladesh's unicameral legislature. The BNP captured only 31 seats in 2008. The AL is the lead party in the Grand Alliance that includes 14 other political parties. The AL does not require their support to govern for its full five-year term of office. The next parliamentary elections must be held by April 2014. As a low-income nation, Bangladesh argues that it has the right to deny entry to refugees from Burma, which has raised major concerns in the international community. The nation is also accused of unequal rights to women, human trafficking, as well as the lack of attention to violence against minority groups. The U.S. Department of State 2012 Human Rights Report details that "the most significant human rights problems were enforced disappearances, discrimination against marginalized groups, and poor working conditions and labor rights." Discrimination of women and indigenous people as well as extrajudicial deaths have been raised as points of concern by Human Rights groups.