Bangladesh on Thursday expressed optimism that the upcoming visit of US Special Envoy for South and Central Asia Sergio Gor to Bangladesh will help strengthen relations between Bangladesh and the United States, with new areas of cooperation.

"The relationship between Bangladesh and the US has always been good, and that relationship is getting stronger under the current government led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman," said State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam on Thursday, hoping that the visit will bring a new dimension to relations between the two countries.

Sergio Gor is likely to arrive in Dhaka on July 30 on a three-day visit, a diplomatic source told UNB, noting that he will try to understand Bangladesh's foreign policy priorities.

He will meet Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman and exchange views with political party leaders, professionals, and representatives of civil society.

"We believe that any high-level US visit will further deepen the relations between Bangladesh and the US. We hope that our multidimensional relations will move forward through this visit," she told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The State Minister hoped that issues of increasing cooperation in various areas, including trade, economic diplomacy, and people-to-people contacts, will come up for discussion.

Sergio Gor currently serves as US Ambassador to India. Additionally, President Donald J. Trump appointed Ambassador Gor as the Special Envoy to South and Central Asia.

Earlier, Ambassador Gor was Assistant to the President and Director of Presidential Personnel at the White House. Under his leadership as Director, thousands of political appointees across the entire federal government were hired in record time.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio received Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman on Wednesday on the margins of the ASEAN Regional Forum Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Manila.

Foreign Affairs Adviser to the Prime Minister Humaiun Kobir and Sergio Gor were present during the meeting. Both sides discussed further enhancing Bangladesh-US bilateral relations.

Secretary Rubio congratulated Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur on his victory in the election for the presidency of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly.

The Bangladesh Foreign Minister extended an invitation to the US Secretary of State to visit Bangladesh.