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BSS-52
BANGLADESH-US-VISIT
High-level US dignitary likely to visit Dhaka: Miller
DHAKA, March 10, 2021 (BSS) – A high-level dignitary of the US Biden
administration is likely to visit Bangladesh to attend the year-long
celebration marking the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and 50-year anniversary of the country’s liberation.
Besides, there is possibility of receiving video message from US
leadership on the occasion of the upcoming 10-day long celebration in this
month.
This was revealed while US ambassador to Bangladesh Earl Miller called on
foreign minister Dr AK Abdul Momen at the foreign ministry on Tuesday, a
press release said here today.
While visiting the US last month, Momen invited US Secretary of State
Antony Blinken to visit Bangladesh this year to participate in the yearlong
celebration, visit the Rohingya camps and witness the socio-economic
development Bangladesh has achieved.
During the meeting, Miller expressed willingness to work closely with
Bangladesh government to follow up the discussion that Dr Momen had in
Washington DC with his counterpart and other high dignitaries.
Dr Momen termed his visit in Washington DC on February 23-27 as a
successful one, and stated that he had a very fruitful discussion with his
counterpart Blinken while the US Ambassador informed that he received good
feedback from his Capital over the meeting.
The foreign minister mentioned his talks, during the visit, with US Special
Envoy for Climate John Kerry, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and five
US lawmakers and about his participation in three events organized by US
Chambers, Newlines Institute and the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR)
respectively.
Momen recalled that he requested the US Secretary of State to appoint a
Special Envoy on Rohingya, in order to monitor and put pressure on Myanmar to
ensure safe and dignified repatriation of the forcibly displaced Rohingyas.
During the visit, he also called for suspension of GSP facility and
imposition of economic sanction on Myanmar by the US.
He also reiterated, during the visit, Bangladesh’s strong expectation that
the US Administration would facilitate the deportation of Rashed Chowdhury,
the convicted killer of Bangabandhu.
Bangladesh Foreign Minister also called for legalization of undocumented
Bangladeshis in the US during his meetings with US lawmakers.
During the meeting with the US Chambers, Foreign Minister Dr Momen asked
for a three-year moratorium on US tariff on Bangladesh’s exports, and also
proposed that Bangladeshi readymade garments can be exempted from tariff in
exchange of fulfilling the condition of using US cotton.
BSS/PR/TA/ARS/2033 hrs