US delegation not to focus only on polls: FS

Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen today said that the upcoming high level visit of a United States (US) delegation would not focus only on Bangladesh election rather it is part of ongoing bilateral engagements between Dhaka and Washington.

“It won’t be wise to think that this visit is (only) centering (our) election … (but yes) polls may come up for discussion as one of the issues, we are not ruling out the factor,” he told journalists at the foreign ministry.

The US delegation lead by Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights Uzra Zeya will visit Bangladesh from July 11-14.

“This visit is continuity of ongoing different mechanism between Bangladesh and the US,” Masud said, adding that human rights, Rohingya repatriation, trade, labour and other issues of mutual interest will also come up for discussion.

The delegation will also include 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.

The foreign secretary said Zeya is a relatively senior US official and her mandated area is quite wide.

Dhaka witnessed a series of visits from Washington in the recent past, including a visit by Under Secretary for Political Affairs, Victoria Nuland in March while Donald Lu also paid a tour in Bangladesh earlier this year.

Meanwhile, Director General (Additional Charge) of Public Diplomacy Wing of the foreign ministry Mohammad Rafiqul Alam, in a weekly media briefing at the ministry, 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 camps apart from their engagements in Dhaka, he added. (BSS)