Financial aid in changed context tops agenda

Bangladesh will discuss issues of financial and development assistance with a high-level US delegation arriving here today under the leadership of Donald Lu, who had conducted whirlwind diplomacy in crisis time.
The team includes representatives from the United States Department of the Treasury, USAID, and Office of the US Trade Representative.
This happens to be the 5th Dhaka visit of Donald Lu, the US Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, who has made his mark as a key player on the geopolitical stage of South Asia.
He made his last visit to Dhaka in May amid tensions between the US and the recently toppled Bangladesh government led by Sheikh Hasina.
Officials of the two countries will discuss how the United States can support Bangladesh's economic growth, financial stability and development needs, a spokesperson for the State Department said.
Commenting on the tour, Foreign Affairs Adviser of the interim government Touhid Hossain says Bangladesh will seek US assistance during the discussion but the forms of the assistance will be determined by the finance ministry.
The delegation will meet foreign adviser and finance adviser and will also call on the chief adviser, officials said. Besides, it is expected to hold meeting with the Bangladesh Bank governor.
"The composition of the delegation reflects the importance of the visit," says foreign secretary Jasim Uddin.
The foreign secretary will lead the Bangladesh side in the bilateral meeting between the two countries.
The US Treasury delegation will meet separately with departments concerned of Bangladesh.
Mr Lu, who is arriving here from Delhi, will leave for home on Monday but the treasury team will stay sometime more, officials said.

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