DHAKA: The third Bangladesh-USA Partnership Dialogue was held in Washington DC on 28-29 October 2014.
Foreign Secretary Md. Shahidul Haque led the 9-member Bangladesh delegation at the dialogue.
The US Delegation was led by US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman.
The Dialogue contained three Working Group meetings on 28 October while the second day was dedicated for plenary session. The working group meetings focused on “Development & Governance”, “Trade & Investment”, and “Security Cooperation”. A broad spectrum of bilateral issues including sustainable development, climate change, migration, scientific & technological cooperation, cyber security, regional integration, blue economy, energy cooperation, peacekeeping operations, counter-terrorism, education and cultural links etc. was discussed.
In the plenary session, summaries of working groups’ discussions were presented. The two leaders emphasized on enhancing bilateral relations between the two countries and reiterated their commitments to work together on issues of both national and global interests. Wendy Sherman congratulated Bangladesh for its success in the recent elections at Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, Inter-Parliamentary Union, UN Human Rights Commission, and International Telecommunications Union and for successful bid of Bangladesh for hosting 9th Global Forum on Migration and Development in Dhaka in 2016. She paid her tribute to 119 Bangladeshi peacekeepers who sacrificed their lives on the line of their duty, and acknowledged Bangladesh’s unparalleled leadership role in promoting international peace and security worldwide. Under Secretary termed Bangladesh a role model for its significant achievements in socio-economic field including attainment of MDG goals. At the end of the Dialogue, a joint statement was issued which is attached.
On the sideline of the partnership dialogue, Foreign Secretary Haque met with senior US Government officials including Nisha Desai Biswal, Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of South & Central Asian Affairs, and Deputy United States Trade Representative, Ambassador Robert Holleyman.
During the meeting with Assistant Secretary Biswal, Foreign Secretary briefed the Assistant Secretary about priorities of the present government in areas such as governance, law and order, counter-terrorism, economic stability, and labor rights. They also discussed on regional integration and various regional and sub-regional arrangements including SAARC, BCIM and BIMSTEC. Assistant Secretary NishaBiswal emphasized that situated at the cross-road of the South and South East Asia, Bangladesh would continue its leading role in promoting regional integration.
The Foreign Secretary had a meeting with the Deputy US Trade Representative Ambassador Robert Holleyman, which was joined, among others, by Assistant USTR, Michael J. Delaney and representatives from the Department of Labor and the Department of State. Foreign Secretary briefed them on the progress concerning workers’ rights and workplace safety in the RMG sector in Bangladesh. The US side acknowledged and appreciated the progress made by the Government of Bangladesh in ensuring workers' rights and workplace safety, and hoped that the progress would continue with the same level of intensity.
BDST: 1035 HRS, OCT 30, 2014
