US Under Secretary holds looks forward to strengthen partnership with Bangladesh

The US Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights, Uzra Zeya has said the US looks forward to deepening its partnership with Bangladesh.

She met Bangladesh Ambassador to the United States Muhammad Imran in Washington on Thursday and they had a "productive" discussion.

"Thank you, Bangladesh Ambassador to the United States Muhammad Imran for a productive discussion on democracy, human rights, fair labor practices, and humanitarian cooperation. I look forward to deepening our strong partnership," she tweeted.

US Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights, Zeya will lead the US delegation during the July 11-14 visit.

US Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu and Deputy Assistant Administrator of the Bureau for Asia, USAID Änjali Kaur will be part of the delegation.

Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen said on Thursday Zeya is a relatively senior US official and her mandated area is quite wide.

He said Bangladesh’s upcoming national election might come up for discussion apart from other issues of mutual interest during the visit of a high-level US delegation next week.

“Many issues will be discussed. Election issues may come up for discussion as one of the issues. We are not ruling out this,” he told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The foreign secretary said human rights, Rohingya repatriation, trade, labor, and other issues of mutual interest will come up for discussion.

Momen said he does not have any information that the US delegation is coming to discuss only the election issue but it is the continuation of various bilateral mechanisms that the two countries have.

Dhaka witnessed a series of visits from Washington in the recent past, including a visit by Under Secretary for Political Affairs, Victoria Nuland, on March 19-23, 2022.

Lu also visited Bangladesh earlier this year. He 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.

Meanwhile, in a weekly media briefing at the Ministry, Director General (Additional Charge) of Public Diplomacy Wing Mohammad Rafiqul Alam said the visit of the US delegation led by Uzra Zeya is basically an effort to advance the friendly relations between the two countries and strengthen the communication further.

The US delegation will also visit the Rohingya camp apart from their engagements at various levels.

Zeya leads global diplomatic efforts to strengthen democracy, advance universal human rights, support refugees and humanitarian relief, promote the rule of law and counter-narcotics cooperation, fight corruption and intolerance, prevent armed conflict, and eliminate human trafficking.

Uzra Zeya also had a separate meeting with Indian Ambassador to USA Taranjit Singh Sandhu.

"Deepening US-India ties to benefit the Indo-Pacific region!" she tweeted.

Following Prime Minister Narendra Modi‍‍`s June visit, they discussed their mutual efforts to advance a "more open, free, prosperous, and secure Indo-Pacific."