DHAKA, Jan 2019 (BSS) – The US top officials have appreciated the Bangladesh new government’s commitment and various initiatives to eliminate corruption, combat terrorism and prevent trafficking in person.
The appreciation was made when Bangladesh foreign secretary Shahidul Haque held meetings with some top ranking officials of the US Department of State in Washington DC in the USA on Tuesday, an official handout said here today.
The foreign secretary held separate talks with USAID Administrator Mark Green and US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Ambassador David Hale to discuss common interests.
During the meetings, Haque pointed out that immediately after the formation of the new cabinet, the priority identified by the Prime Minister for the new government is good governance – primarily zero-tolerance against corruption.
He mentioned that the USA being Bangladesh’s great friend and development partner, the present government looks forward to expanding the existing friendly ties in a multi-sectoral context.
Haque proposed that if the US investors come forward, Bangladesh would be happy to offer one of its special economic zones to them.
Referring to the Rohingya crisis, the foreign secretary noted that the recent internal situation in Northern Rakhine is aggravating the prolonged problem.
He sought the US support in resolving the crisis, stating that it is the responsibility of the Myanmar authorities to create the right condition so that all the Rohingyas currently staying in Bangladesh feel safe to go back to Myanmar.
The US officials lauded the generosity and tolerance of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for providing shelter to the Myanmar nationals who left Rakhine State in the face of persecution by the Myanmar Army.
They termed Bangladesh as a partner that highly matters to them and assured full support towards the solution of the Rohingya crisis.
The foreign secretary also had meetings with Ambassador Alice Wells, principal deputy assistant secretary, South and Central Asia Bureau, Ambassador Michael Kozak, office chief, Bureau of Democracy, Rights and Labour, Acting Assistant Secretary Carol Thomson O’Connell, Population, Refugee and Migration Bureau; Ambassador at Large John Cotton Richmond, office chief, Trafficking in person and Ambassador at Large Nathan Sales, Counterterrorism Bureau and Counterterrorism Coordinator.
Bangladesh Ambassador to the USA Mohammad Ziauddin accompanied him.