Prime Minister's Private Industry and Investment Adviser
Salman F Rahman informed that the United States (US) has expressed keenness to
expand the existing relations with Bangladesh.
"They want to strengthen the existing ties. They want
to work with us in many areas," he said. Salman was briefing journalists
after a discussion with US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central
Asian Affairs Donald Lu at his Gulshan residence on Tuesday night. He hosted
the dinner in honour of visiting Donald Lu and his delegation. Salman said the
US side wanted to know about Bangladesh's plans to improve the foreign currency
reserve situation and make payments to the US companies who are doing business
with Bangladesh smoothly. In reply, Salman told the US delegation that he is
hopeful of increased remittance flow and export earnings with the measures
taken recently. "So, our reserve position will get better," he
mentioned. "Not that we have stopped making payment but it's getting
delayed in some cases. We are continuously making payments," he added. Responding
to a question, Salman said there was no discussion on China as Bangladesh
maintains friendship to all. He said the US briefly talked about free, open and
prosperous Indo-Pacific region, in line with what they always say. Responding
to a question, Salman informed, they urged the US to put pressure on Myanmar
for repatriation.
The US agreed to do so, he added. They also spoke about
regional power connectivity between Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan, and the
crisis in Gaza. Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anisul Huq,
State Minister for Commerce Ahsanul Islam Titu, State Minister for Information
and
Broadcasting Mohammad Ali Arafat, former state minister for Foreign Affairs Md
Shahriar Alam, Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen, Distinguished Fellow & Board
Member of Bangladesh Enterprise Institute Farooq Sobhan and prominent economist
Dr Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad joined the dinner from Bangladesh side. Chief of
Staff of the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs Nate Haft, SCA/NSBM
Political Unit Chief Sarah Aldrich, US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter D Haas
and Arturo Hine (Political Counsellor) and Matthew Beh (Political Officer) at
the US Embassy, Dhaka also attended. Lu arrived on Tuesday morning to
"strengthen bilateral cooperation" and to demonstrate US support for
a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.
