Dhaka-Washington hold 8th partnership dialogue to deepen ties

Officials from Dhaka and Washington have sat down for a partnership dialogue focussing on various issues of mutual interest.

Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen is leading the Bangladesh delegation in the meeting at the state guesthouse Padma on Sunday.

The US delegation for the eighth round of talks between the two countries is being headed by Victoria Nuland, the US under secretary for political affairs

Masud and Nuland held a private meeting before the talks.

The officials will face the media at the end of the dialogue.

Nuland is scheduled to pay a courtesy call on Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen at 2pm.

Other senior members of the delegation include Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu and Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Amanda Dory.

Nuland arrived in Dhaka on Saturday to take part in the dialogue amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Nuland will also visit India and Sri Lanka during the trip from Mar 19-23 “with an interagency delegation to underscore US commitment to, and cooperation with, Indo-Pacific partners”, the State Department said in a statement.

At each stop, Nuland and her delegation will meet with civil society and business leaders “to strengthen economic partnerships and deepen ties in the pursuit of peace, prosperity, and security in the Indo-Pacific region”, according to the statement.

The talks carry added significance for Dhaka as it is set to call on Washington to remove its sanctions on the Rapid Action Battalion and several of its officials.

Source: bdnews24

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