US Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu is likely to pay an official visit to Bangladesh soon. A diplomatic source last week indicated that he might be in Dhaka on May 14 on a two-day visit which is seen as an opportunity to discuss ways for future cooperation.  The US Assistant Secretary is likely to discuss bilateral issues with Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen apart from his courtesy meeting with Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud and PM's adviser Salman F Rahman, the source told UNB.  After the January 7 national election, the US in a statement on January 8 said, "Looking ahead, the United States remains committed to partnering with Bangladesh to advance our shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific, to supporting human rights and civil society in Bangladesh, and to deepening our people-to-people and economic ties." Read more: Indian foreign secretary due Wednesday In February this year, Eileen Laubacher, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for South Asia, US National Security Council (NSC); Michael Schiffer, USAID Assistant Administrator, Bureau for Asia; and Afreen Akhter, US Department of State Deputy Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asia, paid a three-day visit to Bangladesh.  "There is willingness from both sides. Together, we want to create a new chapter in our relations," Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud told reporters after his meeting with the US delegation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at that time.  "It's a pleasure for us to talk about our shared priorities and ways for us to cooperating together in the future," Eileen Laubacher told reporters in her very brief remarks. Read more: Hasan Mahmud inaugurates Singapore High Commission in Dhaka

The United States has said it looks forward to working with Bangladesh to "enhance economic investment" over the next 50 years and beyond. The visiting US delegation met Salman F Rahman, Private Industry and Investment Adviser to PM Sheikh Hasina, to hear how government and private companies are collaborating. Eileen Laubacher, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for South Asia, US National Security Council (NSC); Michael Schiffer, USAID Assistant Administrator, Bureau for Asia; and Afreen Akhter, US Department of State Deputy Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asia, are on a three-day visit to Bangladesh. For over 50 years, the US has partnered with the government and the people of Bangladesh, providing over $8 billion to tackle issues like public health, education, energy, environment, food security, natural disasters, and more. Read: Want to create a new chapter in our relations: Foreign Minister says after meeting with US delegation The United States is one of the largest investors in Bangladesh and its largest single country export market, said the US Embassy in Dhaka. "Our leadership from Washington D.C. joined local economic experts to discuss a range of issues impacting the bilateral trade relationship," said the US Embassy. The United States "stands ready" to help Bangladesh create a business climate that attracts more investment from the US. The delegation discussed ways to improve the business environment, making investment in Bangladesh more attractive to American companies. Read: Bangladesh-US relations will be stronger based on environment, climate actions: Environment Minister The three officials, according to the US side, are visiting Bangladesh to discuss with the government of Bangladesh ways to "strengthen diplomatic ties, address challenges, and promote a shared vision for the advancement of mutual interests in the Indo-Pacific region." They also met Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud, Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen, civil society representatives, labour leaders, youth activists and those engaged in developing a free and uncensored media. "We discussed with the Foreign Minister how our two countries can work on mutual interests, including economic development, security, refugees, climate, labor, and trade," said the US Embassy in a separate message after the meeting. Bangladesh is an important partner in the Indo-Pacific region, it said. Read more: US Deputy Assistant Secretary meets Bangladeshi civil society members including Zillur and Adilur

The United States has emphasized the critical role of civil society in nurturing a robust democracy and catalyzing positive societal changes. Following a significant meeting between US Deputy Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs Afreen Akhter and key figures from Bangladesh's civil society, the US Embassy in Dhaka expressed satisfaction on Sunday. "Very pleased to meet today with courageous and committed figures in Bangladesh’s civil society to share views on its present state," the Embassy stated. Environment Minister inaugurates 2nd National Forest Inventory The US said it will continue to engage on democracy and human rights issues. "We call on the government of Bangladesh to do so too," the message shared by the US Embassy from its verified Facebook page said. Notably present at the meeting were journalist Zillur Rahman and Odhikar’s Secretary Adilur Rahman Khan. Meanwhile, a US delegation led by the USAID Assistant Administrator for the Bureau for Asia, Michael Schiffer, accompanied by Deputy Assistant Secretary Afreen Akhter met with Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen at State guesthouse Padma to discuss issues for strengthening bilateral relations. Read more: US to work with Bangladesh to ‘enhance economic investment’ in next 50 years and beyond

Bangladesh and the United States will hold the ninth annual bilateral security dialogue in Dhaka on September 5 as part of the "comprehensive security relationship" between the two governments. The US delegation will be led by Bureau of Political-Military Affairs Deputy Assistant Secretary Mira Resnick. She arrived in Dhaka on Monday (September 4, 2023). The security dialogue is an annual, civilian-led discussion that touches on all elements of the security relationship between the two countries. Representatives from both sides will discuss Indo-Pacific regional issues, security and human rights, military cooperation, peacekeeping, security assistance, and counterterrorism, among other topics, said the US Embassy in Dhaka in a media note on Sunday. Read: Malaysian envoy hails Showcase Malaysia in strengthening trade relations The United States and Bangladesh have a strong security partnership and share many interests in the Indo-Pacific region, said the embassy. Both countries share a vision to ensure the Indo-Pacific region is free, open, peaceful, and secure.   "We have a variety of dialogues throughout the year in pursuit of these mutual objectives," the media note reads. This year, the security dialogue closely follows the bilateral defense dialogue, which took place August 23 and 24 in Dhaka. The bilateral defense dialogue featured senior officers and civilians from the US and Bangladeshi militaries. They discussed a range of issues specific to the military-to-military relationship, including military education, peacekeeping and upcoming military exercises, including next year’s Disaster Response Exercise & Exchange. Read: Dhaka keen to avail regional opportunities for security, connectivity Resnick oversees the Bureau’s Office of Regional Security and Arms Transfers, which manages over $40 billion annually in government-to-government defense equipment transfers through Foreign Military Sales, Third Party Transfers, and Excess Defense Articles. Resnick is also responsible for the Bureau’s Office of Security Assistance, which manages approximately $6.5 billion in US security sector assistance annually; coordinates State Department oversight, planning, and input for over $9 billion in the Defense Department security sector assistance programs; and provides State Department input for Department of Defense planning and military activities. The security dialogue covers a wide range of issues related to partnership between the two countries including strategic priorities and regional security issues, defense cooperation, civilian security cooperation, UN peacekeeping, counter-terrorism, and countering violent extremism. Bangladesh is likely to reiterate its call to return Rashed Chowdhury, a convicted killer of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, to Bangladesh to face justice. The Rohingya issue may also come up for discussion as a threat in the regional and global contexts. Read: Sweden, UNDP continue to work on climate adaptation in Bangladesh At the 8th Security Dialogue held between the two countries at US Department of State in April last year, the two sides had “constructive discussions” on defence agreements like GSOMIA and ACSA as the US is keen to enhance security cooperation with Bangladesh. General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) and Acquisition and Cross Servicing Agreement (ACSA) are “essential” to enable a closer defense relationship, expand opportunities for defense trade, information sharing, and military-to-military cooperation between the United States and Bangladesh. These issues are likely to come up for discussion as follow up, a diplomatic source told UNB.

PM-Chollet, LdNext national polls will be free and fair: PM Hasina tells US official Eds: Updates with details Dhaka, Feb 15 (UNB) – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said the next parliamentary election will be fair and free as she is committed to democracy and the Election Commission is completely independent. “The next election will be fair and free. I fought for democracy throughout my life,” she said. Read More: Clashes, obstruction by ruling party mark BNP’s nationwide march programme The premier said this when a US delegation, led by Counselor of the US Department of State Derek Chollet, paid a courtesy call on her at the latter’s official residence Ganabhaban. PM’s Speechwriter Md Nazrul Islam briefed reporters after the meeting. Hasina said if the people vote for Awami League in the next general election, her party will take the charge of governing the country. “I never want to come to power through vote-rigging,” she was quoted as saying. Read More: Govt is preparing to hold a free, fair election: PM The PM said she always struggled for the people’s rights to food and vote. She said the first-ever EC’s reconstitution law was passed in parliament and then a neutral Election Commission was constituted on the basis of the law. She said the EC is completely independent. It has administrative and financial independence, she added. Bangladesh is due to elect its next parliament by end of this year or first week of January next year. Read More: Next general election to be held first week of 2024: PM Hasina announces at Cox’s Bazar rally The last parliamentary election was held on December 30, 2018. The prime minister said no political parties in the country other than Awami League have bases at the grassroots level. Opposition BNP and Jatiya Party were born in the cantonments, she noted. She said AL has been in power only for 19 years in the 51-year history of the country’s independence. The anti-Awami League forces were in power for 29 years and there was no democratic polity during their regimes. Focusing on the development of Bangladesh in different socio-economic indexes, she said the transformation of the country has become visible in the last 14 years during her government. It has been possible due to the continued democratic practice and stability in the country, she added. Read More: EC to purchase 700mt paper from Karnaphuli Mills ahead of national election Nazrul said the Russia-Ukraine war and Rohingya issues also came up for the discussion in the meeting. PM Hasina tells the US delegation that the world should stop this war right now as it has caused high inflation and commodity prices throughout the globe. “A war never can bring any benefit for the human kind,” she said. Noting that the USA is the most powerful country, she said it can stop the war anytime. The disputes can be settled through negotiation, she said. Read more: ‘Bir Nibash’: PM gives away keys to 5000 houses for disadvantaged freedom fighters About Rohingyas, the PM said the displaced Myanmar nationals have become a big burden for Bangladesh. The local communities in Cox’s Bazar are suffering and they have become minority due to the influx of such a huge number of Myanmar nationals there. She said the Rohingya peoples are being involved in different criminal activities like drug trafficking, human trafficking, militancy and infightings. The premier said the displaced Myanmar nationals have been staying in Cox’s Bazar for five years and now it is difficult to keep them there as its natural environment and the livelihood of locals are at stake. She said her government arranged different facilities, including income generating programmes, to ensure better life of the Rohingya people on Bhashanchar island. Read More: EVMs to be used partially again in next JS election: EC She asked the world community to provide their assistance to Rohingya people on Bhashanchar. Bangladesh is hosting over 1.1 million Rohingyas in Cox's Bazar and Bhasanchar, she said PM Hasina also asked the international community to try their best for speedy and amicable repatriation of the Rohingya refugees. to Myanmar, their homeland. Derek Chollet thanked the prime minister for giving shelter to the Rohingya people on humanitarian ground. Read More: CEC estimates 15 to 20 percent by-poll voter turnout in 6 JS seats left vacant by BNP He said they would try their best for the repatriation of the displaced people. However, the Counselor to the Secretary of State of the United States said the repatriation will be possible when a democratic government returns to power in Myanmar. He said some recent high-level visits of US officials are reflection of the importance of the bilateral relations between the two countries. This relation will grow further, Chollet added. He said there are potentials to deepen the bilateral relations, but there are some challenges here. Read More: EVM purchasing suspended, not cancelled: EC secretary Chollet arrived here on Tuesday for a 24-hour stay in Bangladesh. PM’s Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman Fazlur Rahman, PM’s Principal Secretary M Tofazzel Hossain Miah, Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen and US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas were present.