Dhaka Bureau: The Awami League has formed the government for the fourth consecutive term with a single majority in the 12th National Parliament elections. A high-level delegation from the United States visited Dhaka for the first time after this election. Along with the message of welcoming the current government and starting a new chapter in relations with Bangladesh, the United States gave some messages during the visit.
From February 24 to 26, the delegation visited Dhaka and held meetings with various levels of government and private officials, civil society, and labor leaders in Bangladesh.
During the visit of this high-level US delegation, the foreign minister commented that the US delegation had a detailed discussion about the start of a new chapter in Bangladesh-US relations. Hasan Mahmud.
In the press briefing after the meeting with the delegation, the minister said that the United States is a major development partner of ours. There was a detailed discussion on how to deepen this relationship, starting a new chapter in the relationship between the two countries.
The delegation held a meeting with the Prime Minister’s Advisor on Private Industry and Investment, Salman F. Rahman. Regarding the meeting with the delegation, Advisor Salman F. Rahman said that the United States wants to start a new chapter in relations with the Bangladesh government. Also, the country wants to work with Bangladesh to increase bilateral trade and investment, improve security cooperation, improve the labor environment, and combat climate change.
The US wants to include Bangladesh in its Development Finance Program (DSP). For that, they have mentioned some conditions. The US will announce the terms soon. The visit of the delegation is said to be of special importance. Those concerned say that strengthening relations with the two countries and increasing US investment in Bangladesh have received special importance during this visit.
Apart from this, the messages given by the US delegation during the meeting with various parties during the visit to Dhaka include climate change, the Rohingya repatriation issue, the implementation of labor rights, human rights, etc. Apart from this, the ongoing political situation and the issue of BNP leaders being in jail were also discussed in the meeting with the top leaders of the BNP.
In response to a question during an exchange of views with journalists at the official residence of the foreign minister on Minto Road in the capital on Monday afternoon, the minister said, “I had a meeting with the delegation for about two and a half hours. We had a very cordial discussion. We talked about taking our relationship to new heights.
During the visit to Dhaka, the US delegation held a meeting with Foreign Secretary Masood Bin Momen. About the meeting, sources in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the strengthening of bilateral relations was discussed in the meeting.
During the visit to Dhaka, the US delegation held a meeting with the top leaders of the BNP. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Standing Committee Member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, and Organizing Secretary Shama Obaid were present in the meeting.
Regarding the meeting, it has been said by the United States that in the meeting with the Secretary General of BNP, the current political scenario of Bangladesh and the thousands of activists of the opposition in prison were discussed. This involvement will continue in the coming days.
During the visit to Dhaka, the US delegation also met with representatives of civil society.
The meeting was held at the residence of US Deputy Chief of Mission Helen Lafave. Economist Debapriya Bhattacharya, journalist Zillur Rahman, editor of rights Adilur Rahman Khan, and teacher of the International Relations Department of Dhaka University participated in the meeting. Amena Mohsin, human rights activist Shireen Haque, and others.
Bangladesh’s democracy and human rights issues were discussed in the meeting.
The US delegation held a meeting with Environment, Forestry, and Climate Change Minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury. In the meeting, he stressed working together to combat the climate crisis.
The US delegation met with labor leaders. We discussed the rights of Bangladeshi workers in the meeting.
The US Embassy in Dhaka informed us about the visit of the US delegation. The delegation will discuss with the Government of Bangladesh strengthening diplomatic relations, addressing challenges, and developing a common vision for the advancement of mutual interests in the Indo-Pacific region. The United States is committed to partnering with Bangladesh to advance a shared vision for a free Indo-Pacific, support human rights, address climate change, advance regional resilience against international threats, and promote economic reform.
On behalf of the United States delegation, the National Security Council’s Senior Director for South Asia Affairs, Rear Admiral Eileen Laubecher, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Afrin Akhtar, and USAID Assistant Administrator Michael Schiffer were present in various meetings.
