Donald Lu arrives in Dhaka

US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu has arrived in Dhaka. During his visit, he will meet with government officials, civil society leaders, and other Bangladeshis to discuss US-Bangladesh cooperation, including addressing the climate crisis and deepening economic ties.

Donald Lu is on a visit to India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh from May 10 to 15. His trip will strengthen bilateral cooperation with each country and demonstrate US support for a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.

In Chennai, Lu met with Consulate personnel to bolster bilateral engagement in southern India.

He then travelled to Colombo to engage with officials from across the political spectrum and deepen the United States’ partnership with Sri Lanka.

Earlier yesterday (May 13), Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud said the US visa policy and sanctions on Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) officials will be discussed during the visit of Donald Lu.

“We will discuss US Visa policy and sanction on RAB individuals during Lu’s visit. We have already discussed the matter of withdrawal or easing those when US Whitehouse and state department officials visit Dhaka earlier. So, these issues will come up naturally this time,” he said while responding to a question of a journalist.

Talking to reporters after attending a programme in the capital, Dr Hasan said the current relations between Bangladesh and the US is very sound and Dhaka will work together whoever visits here from the US administration.
“Whoever visits here, we will work together to advance our (Bangladesh-US) relations,” he said.