US Assistant Secretary Donald Lu in town; Dhaka will discuss key issues “frankly”

US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu arrived here on Saturday evening to discuss ways to strengthen the bilateral relationship, expanding economic engagement and to hear on labor and human rights.

During his brief stay in Dhaka, Assistant Secretary Lu will meet with senior Bangladeshi officials and civil society leaders to discuss the issues of mutual interest.

He is scheduled to have a breakfast meeting with PM’s Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman F Rahman on Sunday morning.

Assistant Secretary Lu will have bilateral talks with Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen on Sunday where a range of priorities including energy, trade, security cooperation, religious freedom, labor and human rights, Indo-Pacific Strategy and withdrawal of sanctions on Rab are likely to be discussed.

Upon arrival from India, Director General (Americas) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Nayem Uddin Ahmed received Lu at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.

“Welcome to Bangladesh, Assistant Secretary Donald Lu. While in Dhaka, Assistant Secretary Lu will meet with senior Bangladeshi officials to discuss strengthening our bilateral relationship,” US Embassy in Dhaka tweeted.

Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu traveled to India from January 12-14.

In India, the Assistant Secretary participated in the India-U.S. Forum. Assistant Secretary Lu also met with senior Indian officials to discuss ways in which the United States and India can further expand energy, trade, security, and human rights cooperation.

Earlier, Foreign Secretary Masud said he sees the visit of Assistant Secretary Lu as part of regular engagements between the two sides.

"We will discuss a whole range of issues, not that only election and human rights issues will be discussed," said the foreign secretary.

He said there are many areas where Bangladesh has some expectations while the US side might have some expectations from Bangladesh. "We will discuss frankly."

The FS said there are strategies on Indo-Pacific from the US, Canada, Japan and the European Union.

"It's not that we are joining in any particular group or not. We are preparing some elements on how we want to see the Bay of Bengal and beyond," Masud said.

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen said Bangladesh would request the United States to reconsider the sanctions imposed on elite force Rab and withdraw the sanctions considering its positive role in the country.

"Rab is now much more mature. We will have a request that they (US) should reconsider the decision," he told reporters after attending a discussion at Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Bhaban Auditorium, University of Dhaka.

"We will raise our issues. They will raise their issues. But others don't need to teach us democracy. Democracy, human rights and justice are rooted in each of our hearts," said the foreign minister.