Bangladesh to focus on RAB sanctions, trade

A crucial US-Bangladesh dialogue will be held today in Dhaka with the matter of healing the strains in the bilateral ties caused by the US sanctions on RAB on top of talk, officials say.
United States Under-Secretary for Political Affairs Ambassador Victoria Nuland, who will lead their side at the eighth US-Bangladesh Partnership Dialogue, arrived here Saturday.
Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen will lead the host side at the three- hour-long meeting, which is also likely to focus on the US-pursued Indo-Pacific strategy, human rights, labour issues, and trade and security cooperation.
Washington seeks to deepen the strong and multifaceted ties built in mutual respect and shared interest, officials at the US Embassy in Dhaka told the FE on the eve of the dialogue, taking place in the wake of major developments in geopolitical and regional arenas.
"In the dialogue we will discuss opportunities to expand a robust relationship, ways we can further enhance close ties on a range of areas of cooperation," says one official.
"As the issue of sanctions on RAB is an important one for us, we will obviously raise it and present a true picture," the official adds.
They say the sanctions on RAB will not harm the ties between the two countries and there is a room for further discussions.
Officials of Bangladesh foreign ministry gave the indication that sanctions issue would be raised in the dialogue with priority and Bangladesh would make it clear that such attempts like sanctions should follow proper communication between the two sides.
Asked, the US officials said that though the US has allocated huge money to support Ukraine in the ongoing war, it would not disrupt the US funding for Rohingyas.
They also said that the issue of Indo-Pacific strategy would come up when regional security matters will be discussed.
Washington also wants Dhaka to sign two defence agreements-General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) and the Acquisition Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA), which US officials say are "foundational agreements" meant to strengthen defence relationship.
These issues may also come up during the dialogue, but there will be detailed discussion on security issue when Bangladesh will hold security dialogue with the US on April 6.
Meanwhile, in a press statement issued Saturday, the US Embassy said Under-Secretary for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland will travel March 19-23 to Bangladesh, India, and Sri Lanka with an interagency delegation to underscore US commitment to, and cooperation with, Indo-Pacific partners.
Nuland will hold Partnership Dialogues in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka and Foreign Office Consultations in New Delhi.
On each stop, the US Under- Secretary and the delegation will meet with civil society and business leaders aiming to to strengthen economic partnerships and deepen ties in the pursuit of peace, prosperity, and security in the Indo-Pacific region.
Other senior members of the delegation include Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu and Deputy Under-Secretary of Defense for Policy Amanda Dory.
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