Foreign minister says he will discuss all Bangladesh-related, international issues with Kerry

Confirming John Kerry's visit to Dhaka next week, Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali has said he will discuss all Bangladesh-related as well as international issues with the US secretary of state during his stay.

Speaking after a programme in Dhaka on Wednesday, Ali said, "Yes, he (Kerry) is coming on Aug 29. His visit has been planned for a while now. But he is coming at last and we are happy."

Responding to queries from reporters, the minister said that he and Kerry would discuss all bilateral issues during the latter’s visit, especially those of a critical nature, against the backdrop of the current global situation.

Earlier, late on Tuesday night, a government source told bdnews24.com that Kerry would be coming to Bangladesh on Aug 29 on a brief visit.

He will leave for New Delhi the same day, said the foreign ministry official.

The foreign minister last year had invited Kerry to visit Dhaka and later told bdnews24.com that America’s top diplomat would be 'coming soon'.

Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali

However, the ministry official said the imminent visit was a sudden development and that US Ambassador Marcia Bernicat’s meetings with the foreign ministry in the last few weeks had dominated the issue.

During his brief visit, Kerry will meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Mahmood Ali and the members of civil society.

This will be Secretary Kerry's first visit to Bangladesh and comes amid US security concerns in Dhaka following the Jul 1 terrorist carnage in which 20 hostages, mostly foreigners, were killed.

After the July 1 attack, Kerry had phoned Sheikh Hasina and sent Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Nisha Desai Biswal to express Washington’s solidarity with Bangladesh.

Biswal, during her visit, offered US expertise to build Bangladesh’s capabilities in countering terrorism.

The government said it would accept cooperation from all “friendly” countries to root out terrorism and extremism.