US official Lu arrives, meets Momen over dinner
Wrapping up his two-day visit to India, US Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu arrived in Dhaka last night and had a meeting over dinner with Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen.
US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas was also present during the hour-and-a-half meeting.
A source refused to disclose what they had discussed but said the discussions on bilateral issues were elaborate.
Journalists who had gathered in front of Momen's home did not receive any formal briefing on the discussions afterwards.
The US assistant secretary, who landed around 8:00pm, is scheduled to hold formal meetings with the foreign minister, Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen, Law Minister Anisul Huq and Adviser to the Prime Minister on Private Industry and Investment Salman F Rahman today.
He is also expected to meet civil society groups in the evening.
He will leave Dhaka tomorrow morning.
Earlier yesterday, Momen said Dhaka will request Washington to withdraw the sanctions on Rab and its seven current and former officials.
"Rab is now much more mature. We will request the US to reconsider the sanctions," Momen told reporters after attending a discussion at Dhaka University.
"We will raise our issues and they will bring up theirs. But others [foreigners] don't need to teach us democracy. Democracy, human rights and justice are rooted in each of our heart," said the foreign minister.
Lu's visit comes less than a week after the four-day Dhaka tour of US National Security Council Senior Director for South Asia Rear Admiral Eileen Laubacher. This signifies the US' eagerness to boost cooperation in defence, maritime security, and economic relationship.
Bangladesh has strong ties with the US, but it saw some strains because of the sanctions imposed on Rab in December 2021 and also not inviting Dhaka to Biden's democracy summit. The human rights situation in Bangladesh has improved in terms of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances since the sanction, rights bodies said.
Foreign ministry officials said the Rab achieved many successes, especially in combating violent extremism and militancy, an issue that is also a priority for the US.
"That's why it is important to equip the law enforcement agency. The US can provide latest technologies to help combat militancy," an official said.
Foreign policy analysts said Donald Lu is likely to raise the issue of fair and participatory elections that the US officials have been talking about repeatedly in recent months, especially because it has questions about the last two parliamentary elections.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam recently told reporters that political parties involved in militancy or having extreme ideologies should in no way get any support from the US or its allies.
A foreign ministry official said Bangladesh will present its own positions before the US and express how it is trying to improve human rights, labour and press freedom situation.
"Since Rana Plaza, Bangladesh has made significant progress in labour reforms. This was also recognised by the international community. If there are more, we will continue to work and improve on this front," he told The Daily Star.
Bangladesh will ask the US to reinstate the GSP facility suspended after the Rana Plaza collapse, and seek support in climate funding, infrastructure and renewable energy, said officials.
The US, which wants Bangladesh to be on its side in the Indo-Pacific, will advance the agenda with Dhaka.
Foreign Minister Momen said Dhaka was still studying the pros and cons of joining the US Indo-Pacific Strategy.
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