FM optimistic about deepening relations with USA

Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud has termed the Bangladesh-USA relations as an "excellent" one and hoped that the relations will be deepened further in near future.

"The two countries are working closely to further improve the ties. In the future, we will continue to work closely, and the relations will be deepened," he said on Wednesday at a media briefing at his office.

He was replying a question over the US Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lus upcoming visit, Hasan replied that Bangladesh to focus on the Rohingya crisis.
The Foreign Minister, however, did not share the date of Lus arrival in Dhaka.

"Donald Lu is coming mainly to discuss the Rohingya crisis," he told reporters. Other issues will certainly come up for discussion, Hasan said.  

Earlier, it has been said that Lu might be in Dhaka on May 14 on a two-day visit, which is seen as an opportunity to discuss ways for future cooperation.

According to the Foreign Ministry, the US Assistant Secretary is likely to discuss bilateral issues with Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen apart from his courtesy meetings with Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud and PMs adviser Salman F Rahman.

The Foreign Minister said the relations between Bangladesh and the US will be further strengthened through the visit.

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."

In February this year, Eileen Laubacher, Special Assistant to the US 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, were on 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.