William B. Milam, a distinguished diplomat and former US Ambassador to Bangladesh known for his expertise in South Asian affairs, has passed away. He was 89. He breathed his last on Tuesday (February 17) local time in Sacramento, California.
The news of his passing was confirmed on Wednesday via a post on 'X' (formerly Twitter) by his former colleague and fellow US diplomat, John F. Danilovich.
Tributes have poured in from various quarters, including Bangladesh’s Ambassador to Mexico, Mushfiqul Fazal Ansarey, and BFF President Tabith Awal, both of whom shared their condolences on social media. Mushfiqul Fazal Ansarey shared details of the passing, citing an email from Milam’s daughter, Erika Milam, a professor at Princeton University.
A Legacy in Diplomacy
William B. Milam served as the US Ambassador in Dhaka from September 1990 to October 1993. Beyond his official diplomatic roles, he was also the editor of the South Asia Perspective magazine.
In a heartfelt post, Mushfiqul Fazal Ansarey noted that he had worked with Milam during his diplomatic postings in both Bangladesh and Pakistan, and they continued to collaborate even after Milam’s retirement. Notably, Milam had recently visited Dhaka in March of last year alongside Danilovich.
