Bangladesh and the United States will discuss how the United States can support Bangladesh’s economic growth, financial stability and development needs as Dhaka will welcome a delegation from the US within a few days.
“US and Bangladeshi officials will discuss how the United States can support Bangladesh’s economic growth, financial stability and development needs,” a Spokesperson at the US Department of State said on Tuesday.
US Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu will travel to India and Bangladesh from September 10 to 16, said the Spokesperson.
Throughout his trip, Assistant Secretary Lu will reaffirm the United States’ commitment to supporting our partners’ economic growth and promoting stability throughout the Indo-Pacific region.
In Dhaka, Assistant Secretary Lu will join an interagency delegation for meetings with the Bangladeshi interim government.
The delegation will include representatives from the US Department of the Treasury, USAID, and Office of the US Trade Representative.
The senior-level US delegation will discuss ways with the interim government to take forward the relations between the two countries in a changed political scenario.
Any visit by the US delegation is always important, Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
This is going to be the first such visit from the US since the formation of the interim government led by Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on August 8.
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence for South and Southeast Asia Lindsey W. Ford and US Deputy Under Secretary/Assistant Secretary for International Finance Brent Neiman will join the US delegation.
In this role, Ford serves as the principal adviser to senior leadership within the Department of Defence for all policy matters pertaining to the development and implementation of defence strategies and plans for the region.
Her area of responsibility includes bilateral security relations with India and all other South Asian countries, excepting Afghanistan; and with the nations of Southeast Asia.
Neiman serves as the Deputy Under Secretary for International Finance at the U.S Department of the Treasury.
The Foreign Affairs Adviser said they will discuss issues which are achievable and stressed that US visa policy will not affect the relations between the two countries.
The delegation will call on Chief Adviser Professor Yunus, Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain, and Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed apart from their other engagements.
Assistant Secretary Lu will travel to New Delhi before his arrival in Dhaka where he will highlight U.S.-India cooperation to promote development, security, and women’s economic security at the India Ideas Summit, hosted by the U.S.-India Business Council.
He will also co-chair the eighth U.S.-India 2+2 Intersessional Dialogue, alongside U.S. Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Jedidiah P. Royal and counterparts from the Indian Ministry of External Affairs and Indian Ministry of Defense.
The Dialogue will identify opportunities to enhance the U.S.-India bilateral partnership, including defense cooperation, and expand U.S.-India collaboration in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.