US-Bangladesh engage in ‘constructive’ dialogue

The United States and Bangladesh began a “very constructive” dialogue in Washington on Tuesday.

US ambassador in Dhaka Dan Mozena said this on Wednesday regarding the third round of a ‘partnership dialogue’.

He was replying questions after launching the global initiative ‘Sustainable Energy for All Investor Forum’ in Dhaka.

Under Secretary for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman and Bangladesh’s Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque are co-chairing the two-day dialogue in the US capital.

This is a platform the two countries use to discuss a whole range of issues between them.

Mozena said the first day of the talks featured three working groups on development and governance, trade and investment, and security cooperation.

“That day went very well,” he said. On the last day, the working groups would report back to the co-chairs.

The ambassador said, in a strategic sense, the first day was “extremely positive and very constructive”.

He said the partnership dialogue became “much richer” with “deeper and broader” engagements over the years.

“There are so many more issues where we work together and co-operate,” he said.

Earlier, the US State Department had said in a statement a statement that regional and international issues would also be discussed.

It says the dialogue provides an “opportunity to expand the robust bilateral relationship between our two countries”.

Bangladesh stands on the junction of South and East Asia that US believes plays a key role in linking these regions.

It also welcomed the opportunity to use the partnership dialogue to further enhance the close Dhaka-Washington ties.