The United States is keen to engage with Bangladesh on human rights issues, including conducting regular dialogue, said Earl R. Miller, the outgoing US ambassador.
Foreign Minister on Wednesday (January 19) at the state guest house Padma. The US ambassador made the remarks during a farewell meeting with AK Abdul Momen.
বাংলায় পড়তে ক্লিক করুন
A press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that during the meeting, they discussed various ways and means of cooperation between the two countries in the field of human rights, including the organization of training programs.
Dr. Momen informed Miller that the ongoing Union Parishad elections as well as the Narayanganj City Corporation elections would be held in a free and fair manner with high voter turnout.
The Foreign Minister further said that Bangladesh will be open to foreign observers in the forthcoming parliamentary elections.
He thanked the US government for its support of the vaccine. Bangladesh has so far received 26 million doses of the Covid-19 vaccine from the United States under the Covax program and will receive more in the near future.
Dr. Momen praised the two countries’ close involvement in the issue of climate change and recalled the visit of US Special Envoy John Kerry to Bangladesh in April 2021.
Noting that due to the epidemic situation, the two governments could not communicate much in person, both sides expressed hope that a number of dialogues and visits would take place in the coming months.
The Secretary of State thanked the US Ambassador for his assistance during his visit to Washington DC in February 2021. It was the first visit by a foreign minister to the US capital since taking office. He also thanked the Chiefs of the Bangladesh Armed Forces for their official visit to the United States in 2021.
The Bangladeshi Foreign Minister also thanked the US Government for responding to his request for assistance in restoring the coastal dam in the southern part of the country and its further development.
Dr. Momen called on the United States to participate in large-scale infrastructure projects in Bangladesh, as this is a priority for the Government of Bangladesh.
Thanking the forcibly displaced Rohingya as the largest donors to humanitarian work, the Foreign Minister called on the United States to take part in humanitarian work in Bhasanchar in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding signed with the United Nations.
The US ambassador reiterated the United States’ strong support for a political settlement of the Rohingya issue, not just through humanitarian assistance but also through repatriation.
He also expressed hope that his successor, with a strong economic background, would make a significant contribution to furthering economic cooperation between the two countries.
Miller said his tenure in Bangladesh would be the best chapter of his career because of the warm hospitality he received from the government and people here.
Earlier, the outgoing US Ambassador also met with Foreign Secretary Masood bin Momen and discussed issues of mutual interest.
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