The United States has said it engages directly with Bangladeshi officials to discuss "shared priorities" for the two countries. Talking to reporters during a regular briefing at the US State Department on July 18, its Spokesperson Matthew Miller said US Under Secretary Uzra Zeya emphasized in her trip the importance of the United States and Bangladesh working together to achieve Bangladesh’s goal of "free and fair elections" as well as the crucial role of civil society, human rights defenders, journalists, and labor activists, and accountability for human rights abuses.  "These are important issues in our bilateral relationship," he said, adding that senior officials from the United States regularly travel to Bangladesh. This type of political violence has no place in democratic elections: US State Dept on Hero Alam assault  Miller said the US Under Secretary also emphasized the importance of continuing to support the Rohingya refugees.  She visited Rohingya refugees as well as humanitarian partners and Bangladesh senior government officials in Cox’s Bazar and announced $74 million in additional humanitarian assistance to support Myanmar and Bangladesh response efforts.  US State Department ‘deeply concerned over use of Digital Security Act’ "I will just say finally that the United States is dedicated to partnering with the government and civil society to address the scourge of human trafficking in the region," Miller said. US Under Secretary Uzra Zeya announces $1m State Dept grant for child victims of trafficking

US Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights Uzra Zeya has announced a $1 million grant from the State Department to the Freedom Fund and its partners. This program will provide reintegration services to more than 500 children who have been exploited by human traffickers. “Bangladesh is a vital partner in our goal to ensure a more free and open Indo-Pacific. Our partnership is anchored by shared democratic principles and respect for human rights,” Under Secretary Zeya said. Reject violence, support genuinely peaceful democratic process: Uzra Zeya's message to political parties in Bangladesh Zeya and a delegation of senior US government officials from the Department of State, including Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of South and Central Asia Donald Lu, traveled to Dhaka and Cox’s Bazar July 11-14 and met with senior government officials, civil society members, Rohingya refugees, and representatives from humanitarian organizations. Under Secretary Zeya announced more than $74 million in additional US humanitarian assistance to support response efforts in Myanmar and Bangladesh, including nearly $61 million to support Rohingyas internally displaced in Myanmar, refugees in Bangladesh, and their host communities. Heard a ‘strong commitment’ from PM, ministers in support of free, fair, peaceful elections in Bangladesh: Uzra Zeya This brings total assistance to more than $2.1 billion since 2017 to help Rohingyas and host communities, according to the US Embassy in Dhaka. While in Bangladesh, Under Secretary Zeya had productive meetings with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Law Minister Anisul Huq, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen, and other senior officials from the Government of Bangladesh. US visa policy to supplement govt commitment to hold free election: Uzra Zeya tells PM She also met with labor activists, civil society leaders, and human rights defenders.      

Visiting US Department of State's Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy and Human Rights Uzra Zeya on Thursday said her country announced the new visa policy to supplement Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s commitment to hold free, fair and neutral election. She made the statement while calling on the prime minister at her official residence Ganabhaban, PM’s press secretary Ihsanul Karim told reporters in a briefing. “We do not have any bias towards any party, we want a neutral, free and fair election,” Zeya was quoted as telling the PM. PM Hasina said that it is her commitment to hold free and fair election in the country. Also read: US seeks worldwide partners' assistance for Rohingyas: Uzra Zeya “We always fought for free and fair election in the country, we already have held free and fair election,” she said. She mentioned that Awami League always fought for the rights of the people. “We always fight for people’s right to choose their representatives,” she said. She also mentioned that it was BNP who started vote rigging in the country. In this connection, she said that transparent ballot boxes have been introduced for polls. Hasina recalled the atrocities, terrorism activities and arson attacks of BNP and their allies during 2013-15 that left 500 people killed. Also read: Uzra Zeya reiterates US' hope for "peaceful, fair" elections process in Bangladesh She also mentioned about the grenade attack on her rally in Dhaka on August 21 in 2004 that left 24 people killed and over 500 injured. She said she was saved by Awami League leaders and activists who formed a human shield after the attack during BNP-Jamaat rule. Zeya told the PM that she visited Rohingya camps and talked to the displaced people from Myanmar. She put emphasis on strengthening coordinated international efforts to ensure reparation of the Rohingyas to their homeland in Myanmar. She mentioned that US will provide some USD 74 million for the operational cost in Rohingya camps. Also read: Legal framework enough to hold free, fair elections: Law secretary to EU mission  She highly appreciated Sheikh Hasina for hosting such a huge number of Rohingyas in Bangladesh. PM Hasina said that Bangladesh currently is hosting more than one million Ronhigays in two different areas of the country. She also said that human trafficking and anti-social activities are going on in these camps which are very much alarming for the country’s security. The under secretary said that her country will cooperate with Bangladesh for its financial and economic development. She said that the US will help and work together with Bangladesh in labour reforms initiative. In his connection, Hasina said that she personally pushed the owners of industries to enhance the wages and other facilities for the workers various times. Prime Minister’s Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman Fazlur Rahman, Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen, PMO Secretary Mohammad Salahuddin, Bangladesh Ambassador to United States Mohammad Imran, US Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu and US Ambassador Peter Haas were present. Also read: US Under Secretary Uzra Zeya, Donald Lu visit Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar   

The United States has said it is "maintaining pressure" on Myanmar’s military regime to end the Rohingya crisis and create conditions conducive for the eventual voluntary return of the refugees to their homeland in a manner that is safe, dignified, informed, and sustainable.US Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights Uzra Zeya met with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina this morning and discussed bilateral issues. They discussed the strong and growing partnership between the United States and Bangladesh, including coordination on issues from humanitarian assistance to gender equality. They spoke about efforts to advance a prosperous future built on strong democratic institutions, including free and fair elections; the vital role of civil society and independent media; promoting human rights and fundamental freedoms, including freedom of association and labor rights, according to the US Embassy in Dhaka. Also read: US visa policy to supplement govt commitment to hold free election: Uzra Zeya tells PM "Us appreciates Bangladesh’s generosity towards Rohingya refugees and looks forward to free and fair elections anchoring a thriving democratic future for the Bangladeshi people," Under Secretary Zeya tweeted after her meeting with Prime Minister Hasina. She also described the meeting as "engaging and productive". The Under Secretary and Prime Minister also discussed Bangladesh's generous hosting of Rohingya refugees and the continued need for support from the global community. The United States is proud to have provided more than $2.1 billion in humanitarian assistance to support Rohingya refugees and host communities in Bangladesh and the region since August 2017. The Under Secretary also shared that the United States is providing more than $74 million in additional humanitarian assistance to support the ongoing response efforts in Myanmar and Bangladesh, including nearly $61 million to support Rohingyas internally displaced in Myanmar, Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, and their host communities, including in Bangladesh, while urging continued support by other donors and potential donors. US Under Secretary Uzra Zeya, Donald Lu visit Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar

US Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights, Uzra Zeya, is likely to visit Bangladesh next month to discuss issues of mutual interest. She leads global diplomatic efforts to strengthen democracy, advance universal human rights, support refugees and humanitarian relief, promote rule of law and counternarcotics cooperation, fight corruption and intolerance, prevent armed conflict, and eliminate human trafficking. UN USG Lacroix commends Bangladesh’s proactive role to increase number of women peacekeepers Nothing has been finalised yet, and there is no official announcement from either side regarding the visit. For security reasons, the US Embassy in Dhaka does not usually discuss movements of high-level officials, but a formal announcement will come from the US State Department once things are finalised, a diplomatic source told UNB. Dhaka witnessed a series of visits from Washington in the recent past, including a visit by Under Secretary for Political Affairs, Victoria Nuland, in March 19-23, 2022. Rohingya repatriation: Bangladesh determined for a ‘small trial’, says Shahriar Alam Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu also visited Bangladesh earlier this year. Lu has been heavily involved in setting Washington's Bangladesh policy in the recent past. After the new visa policy was officially announced by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on May 25, Lu appeared as the public face of the move, making appearances in Bangladeshi media to explain how it would be implemented. UN officials praise Bangladeshi peacekeepers during meeting with PM Hasina