The United States recognized Bangladesh on April 4, 1972, in a press statement from Secretary of State William Rogers. In addition, Herbert Spivack, the principal U.S. officer in Dhaka, delivered a message from President Richard Nixon to Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Mujibur Rahman informing him that the United States government wished to establish diplomatic relations at the ambassadorial level. Mujibur Rahman sent a letter to Nixon on April 9 in which he acknowledged the recognition accorded his country.

Diplomatic relations and the American Embassy at Dhaka were established on May 18, 1972, with Herbert D. Spivack as Chargé d’Affaires ad interim. The first Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary was Davis Eugene Boster, who presented his credentials on April 13, 1974.