DHAKA, Feb 15, 2023 (BSS) – The visiting high-level US delegation today assured Dhaka their much talked about Burma Act would not contribute to any regional violence affecting Bangladesh, foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen said.

  “They (US side) mentioned about Burma Act and assured us that they won’t do anything that would contribute to any violence which is not desired at all in the region” Masud said replying to a specific question at media briefing.

   Masud added: “We said there are issues to look into so that there is no further instability. They (US side) assured us that their efforts will be there to (help Myanmar) return to democratic process.”

   The top bureaucrat of the Bangladesh foreign office said US also did not make any proposal to Dhaka regarding the Burma Act.

  The foreign secretary said the Washington assurance came as Dhaka raised its concern over the recently enacted US legislation as state department counselor Derek Chollet joined him in a breakfast meeting at a hotel in the Bangladesh capital.

   Chollet, who serves as a senior foreign policy adviser to US secretary of State Antony Blinken, is led a seven-member inter agency delegation of his country and also made a courtesy call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and met with foreign secretary Dr AK Abdul Momen as well.

   Masud was aided by concerned Bangladesh officials in the breakfast meeting.

   Several foreign relation and security experts earlier expressed fear that the Burma Act would result in increased US pressure on Myanmar’s current military junta called State Administrative Council (SAC), and provide more aid to the people of Myanmar.

   Masud said the Bangladesh side urged the US to relocate more Rohingyas from Bangladesh to the US as well as to enhance humanitarian support in Bhashanchar.

   Chollet said US was continuously working and trying to help Bangladesh as it was hosting over a million Rohingyas, and also trying to deal with the root cause of the crisis in Myanmar.

   “We are working every day not only to try to help Bangladesh as they are hosting these refugees but also to deal with the root causes of this crisis, which rest inside Myanmar,” said Chollet while talking to newsmen after his meeting with the foreign minister.