First BD-US dialogue ends

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The first Bangladesh-US Partnership Dialogue concluded at the US Department of State in Washington DC on Thursday with focus on development and governance, trade and investment, and cooperation in security issue, reports UNB.
The two sides held extensive discussions on the entire range of bilateral issues taking up regional ones also such as connectivity, counter-terrorism and energy cooperation, said a press release from Bangladesh mission in Washington received in Dhaka Friday.
The United States indicated their plan to send US trade and investment expert delegations to Bangladesh for exploring the avenues of cooperation, including moving forward on the issue of duty-free access of Bangladeshi products to the US market.
The indication came when Dhaka raised its longstanding demand for duty-free access of its products to the US market during the dialogue.
The Bangladesh side stressed that greater market access would eventually contribute to better terms of employment for the workers, including wages and work environment, encourage women empowerment and promote environment-friendly lifestyle of Bangladesh workforce.
Foreign Secretary Mohamed Mijarul Quayes led the 20-member Bangladesh delegation at the dialogue. The US delegation was led by US Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman.
Both sides expressed satisfaction over the first round of the Partnership Dialogue since its formalisation through an agreement signed in May, 2012.
The US acknowledged that Bangladesh's strategic location at the crossroads of global powerhouses in South and East Asia was a key to its potential in linking these regions, including China and the Indian Ocean.
The US side appreciated Bangladesh's commitment and initiatives in regional cooperation and efforts for enhancing physical connectivity, and regional approaches to water resources management and power generation.
The Bangladesh delegation highlighted its development efforts, strategies and priorities.
The US delegation reaffirmed its commitment to keep itself engaged in Dhaka's development efforts to strengthen democratic institutions, support for a vibrant civil society, and capacity for improved governance.
While lauding Bangladesh's success in women empowerment and several other social indicators, the Washington reassured its commitment to work with Dhaka in these related sectors, including healthcare. Bangladesh strongly articulated its case for access to the Millennium Challenge Fund.
The US side conveyed readiness to receive a delegation to discuss the issue of accessing the Fund with the Millennium Challenge Corporation.
Both sides agreed on the value of a platform for discussing trade and investment issues, and noted the progress made in negotiations on the Ticfa.
The US spoke of Bangladesh's vital role in global security and stability as one of the top troop contributing countries under UN peacekeeping operations.
Bangladesh raised the issue of greater representation of troop-contributing countries in command positions on the ground as well as at the UN peace keeping operation policy level.
Bangladesh also spoke of the need to expand the peacekeeping mandate in terms of post-conflict peace building. The US delegation praised Bangladesh's counter-terrorism efforts, particularly the bold initiatives of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, to root our terrorism from Bangladesh.
The Foreign Secretary invited his counterpart to the next round of the Partnership Dialogue to be held in Bangladesh in 2013.