A US company has discovered a huge energy reserve in the Bay of Bengal, Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud said on Wednesday following separate meetings with envoys Peter Haas of the US and Charles Whiteley of the European Union (EU).
Extracting this offshore bounty could greatly benefit Bangladesh's economy, the foreign minister added.
The minister said that both the US and Bangladesh agreed to work closely to advance and strengthen bilateral ties. "We also explored avenues for expanding bilateral trade and attracting greater US investment to Bangladesh," he said.
Acknowledging the US's longstanding role as a key development partner since Bangladesh's independence, the minister expressed his gratitude to Mr Haas.
He said that both countries concurred on the need to intensify cooperation in combating militancy and extremism.
Dr Mahmud said he held extensive discussions with both US and EU envoys on the Rohingya crisis, seeking their support in resolving the plight of the displaced community.
"Bangladesh is one of the most populous countries in the world. So the presence of the 1.5 million Rohingya, including 0.2 million newborns, is a serious burden for the country," he added.
The minister reiterated the importance of Myanmar granting full citizenship to Rohingya as a precondition for sustainable repatriation.
He pointed to the recent presence of Rohingya representatives in the Myanmar parliament and cabinet as evidence of their rightful citizenship.
Apart from the Rohingya crisis, the foreign minister's talks with the EU envoy focused on enhancing partnership agreements, trade expansion and attracting European investment.
"We discussed how EU companies can leverage Bangladesh's special economic zones and invest in the private sector," he commented after the meeting.
While responding to a media query, Hasan Mahmud said that during his discussion with the US envoy, he raised the issue of the general elections held on January 7 to inform Mr Haas about the violence carried out by the BNP before the elections.
When questioned about potential US sanctions, Dr Mahmud opted not to address the concerns directly, instead highlighting the renewed commitment to deepening bilateral ties in the coming days.
After the meeting with the foreign minister, Mr Haas also echoed the sentiment, saying that their discussions centred on fostering business and trade ties.
The ambassador acknowledged the urgency of addressing the Rohingya crisis.
"We are committed to working together to strengthen our relationship," he concluded.
mirmostafiz@yahoo.com