Newly appointed US Ambassador in Bangladesh Marcia Stephens Bloom Bernicat expressed her concern over the prevailing political unrest here as she discussed Monday with State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam matters of bilateral interest of the two countries.
It was her first official call on a government functionary in Dhaka after her arrival here, amid a prolonged blockade enforced by opposition BNP and its allies and associated acts of violence.
The US envoy hoped to strengthen the ongoing cooperation between the two countries, meeting sources. They said both sides talked about the friendly relationship existing between Bangladesh and the United States and agreed to strengthen it on structural framework.
At one stage of the courtesy call, the sources said, Ms Marcia expressed her anguish at the ongoing violence in which common people are falling victim.
The state minister, however, focused on further strengthening of the bilateral relations and hoped to continue on different meetings initiated by the last US Ambassador for deepening the relationship between the two countries.
He said, "The relation is now set on a solid framework with the holding of different dialogues and consultations, citing the examples of partnership dialogue, security dialogue, defence dialogue and TICFA council meeting."
The state minister also welcomed the US participation in manufacturing, infrastructure, service sectors, and high-end technologies while praising the country's contribution to foreign direct investment (FDI).
A foreign ministry press release, meanwhile, said during the meeting, Mr Alam raised the issue of repatriation of Rashed Chowdhury, a self-confessed killer of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and Ashrafuzzaman Khan, a convicted war criminal for crimes against humanity during the War of Independence.
He reiterated request of the government for concluding a bilateral extradition treaty.
smunima@yahoo.com
