Foreign Minister Ali had a bilateral meeting with Deputy Secretary of State John J Sullivan on Tuesday at the United States Department of State in Washington, D.C. and requested the US administration to return Rashed Chowdhury.

In response, Deputy Secretary Sullivan stated that he is aware of the issue and the United States Department of Justice is dealing with this, according to Bangladesh Embassy in Washington.

The Foreign Minister urged the US administration to remain engaged with Myanmar to ensure dignified, safe and sustainable return of the forcibly displaced Rohingyas.

Acknowledging the fact that it is a staggering burden on Bangladesh to host 1.1 million forcibly displaced Rohingyas from Myanmar, Deputy Secretary Sullivan assured that the United States would continue to work with Myanmar government for their early repatriation.

Minister Ali urged Deputy Secretary Sullivan to continue pressure on Myanmar.

In response, the Deputy Secretary said the United States would continue its pressure on Myanmar to create safe and secure conditions in Northern Rakhine for repatriation of the forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals from Bangladesh to their homes in Myanmar.

During the bilateral meeting, Sullivan profusely thanked Bangladesh for its role in addressing the Rohingya crisis.

The Foreign Minister is currently visiting Washington, D.C. at the invitation of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to lead the Bangladesh delegation at the first-ever meeting on Advance Religious Freedom.

The State Department is hosting the high-level global meeting on religious freedom on July 25-26.

Mahmood Ali conveyed sincere thanks and appreciation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to the US President Donald Trump and his administration, for the strong and consistent humanitarian and political support to Bangladesh in dealing with this massive humanitarian crisis.

The Foreign Minister invited Deputy Secretary Sullivan and the Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to visit Bangladesh at their earliest convenience. 

Earlier in the day, former Governor of New Mexico and former United States Energy Secretary, William Blaine Richardson III, met Foreign Minister Ali at the Embassy of Bangladesh and exchanged views on issues of common interests and importance with particular focus on the Rohingya crisis.

Upon his arrival at the Embassy of Bangladesh in Washington D.C., Foreign Minister Ali placed floral wreath at the bust of the Father of the Nation of Bangladesh, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and stood in silence for one minute paying homage to Bangabandhu.