Ambassador Ziauddin briefs CSIS President John Harmre on Bangladesh’s development matters

Bangladesh Ambassador to the US Mohammad Ziauddin has briefed the President and CEO of the Washinton-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) on the country's development issues.

Dr John Hamre is a former deputy secretary of defence.

Established in 1962, CSIS is one of the world’s preeminent public policy institutions on foreign policy and national security matters.

During the meeting in Washington on Thursday, they discussed, among other things, Bangladesh’s development achievements, education, women’s empowerment, counter-terrorism, human rights, trade and investment, and regional cooperation, the embassy said.

The ambassador also briefed Hamre on the "excellent bilateral relations" between Bangladesh and the US.

He informed him about the mutual cooperation in counter-terrorism and intelligence-sharing.

He said the present Bangladesh government pursues 'zero tolerance' policy towards any form of terrorism, and Dhaka was working 'closely' with its neighbours in this regard, as well as the US.

The Ambassador urged the US authorities to give duty-free and quota-free market access to all LDCs like the European Union, based on justice and fair play.

Hamre lauded the role of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for Bangladesh’s various development activities, especially those concerning women’s empowerment.

He also expressed his interest to visit Bangladesh, according to the embassy.