DHAKA, Oct 1, 2023 (BSS) - Visiting US Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Rena Bitter today held a meeting with acting Foreign Secretary Rear Admiral (Retd) Md. Khurshed Alam and discussed relations between Bangladesh and the US consular.
 
 During the meeting at the foreign ministry, Alam raised the issue of delay in getting visas by Bangladeshi students and Bangladesh-origin people who work in international organizations.

The US side assured him of considering it to further expedite the process, the acting foreign secretary told reporters after the meeting.

Alam said the US side did not raise anything related to the recently announced US visa policy.
"I can unequivocally tell you that they did not initiate any discussion about the visa policy," he said, adding that the new visa policy is up to the US side and the Bangladesh government does not show any interest in knowing it.

Alam said the visit was part of a regular engagement and the US assistance secretary did not come to discuss any specific issue.

Increased interest in student visas, consular assistance to American citizens, and US efforts to reduce waiting time for visa interviews were some of the topics discussed by Assistant Secretary of State and the acting Foreign Secretary, said the US Embassy in Dhaka in X (former Twitter).

US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas was also present at the meeting.
The senior US official visited Islamabad and Karachi before her arrival in Dhaka on Saturday night.

"Her trip underscores our deep and sustained commitment to the protection of US citizens overseas and the facilitation of legitimate travel and immigration to the United States," said the spokesperson at the US Department of State regarding her visit.