The claim that Indian-origin Vivek Ganapathy Ramaswamy has been appointed as the United States Ambassador to Bangladesh is false, according to an investigation by Factwatch. The claim, which circulated on Facebook, lacks any evidence. Instead, a press release issued by the U.S. Embassy in Dhaka on Thursday, December 9, clarified that Tracy Ann Jacobson, a senior member of the U.S. Foreign Service, will assume the role of Acting Ambassador to Bangladesh.

A relevant keyword search led to a report on BD News24 regarding the U.S. ambassadorial appointment in Bangladesh. Published on Thursday, December 9, under the title “Tracy Ann Jacobson as Acting U.S. Ambassador to Dhaka,” the report cited a press release from the U.S. Embassy in Dhaka. It stated that Jacobson would take charge as Chargé d’Affaires, ad interim, at the U.S. Embassy in Dhaka starting January 11.

Further details in the report revealed that U.S. President Joe Biden had nominated David Slaten Mill, Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, as Peter Haas’ successor in Bangladesh. According to U.S. regulations, an ambassadorial nominee must appear before the Senate for a confirmation hearing before assuming the role. Since this hearing did not occur, David Mill’s appointment to Dhaka was not finalized. Consequently, Tracy Ann Jacobson has been sent to Dhaka to fulfill the responsibilities in an acting capacity until a formal ambassadorial appointment is made.

The U.S. Embassy in Dhaka’s official website also contains the press release about Jacobson assuming the role of Acting Ambassador to Bangladesh.

Contrary to these developments, no evidence supports the claim that Vivek Ganapathy Ramaswamy has been appointed as U.S. Ambassador to Bangladesh. Ramaswamy’s social media accounts and website do not provide any information suggesting such a role. Instead, a CNN report from November 12 of the previous year disclosed that Vivek Ganapathy Ramaswamy would serve in a newly created Department of Government Efficiency under the administration of the then U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, alongside tech magnate Elon Musk. Trump himself issued a statement regarding this appointment, which Ramaswamy shared on his verified Instagram account on November 13.

It is worth noting that Vivek Ganapathy Ramaswamy’s parents are Indian immigrants to the United States, originally from Kerala. They moved to the U.S. in the 1970s, and Vivek was born there in 1985.

In conclusion, it is confirmed that Tracy Ann Jacobson, a senior member of the U.S. Foreign Service, is assuming the role of Acting U.S. Ambassador to Bangladesh, not Vivek Ganapathy Ramaswamy. Factwatch deems the claim about Ramaswamy’s appointment as false.

Original News Link: -  https://www.fact-watch.org/us-ambassador-vivek-ganopathi-ramaswami-bangladesh/