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Bangladesh, US relations to reach new heights: Blinken to Momen
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said the relations between Bangladesh and the United States will reach new heights in the next 50 years.
Secretary Blinken said this in his letter sent to Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday.
He described the celebrations of 50 years of diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and the United States as a milestone in the two countries’ growing partnership.
The close cooperation between the two countries in protecting people from the scourge of terrorism, human trafficking and illicit drug trafficking is commendable, Blinken said.
Highlighting key issues in the Biden administration's foreign policy, Blinken welcomed the continuation of the dialogue on labor rights, religious freedom, human rights and good governance, highlighting key issues in the Biden administration's foreign policy.
Also read: Biden sees stronger Dhaka-Washington ties in future
The United States and Bangladesh will continue to work closely on strengthening economic ties, investing in development, addressing the challenges of climate change, regional security, peacekeeping operations, and finding a lasting solution to the Rohingya crisis, he mentioned in the letter.
Blinken said the United States stood by the people of Bangladesh by providing 61 million doses of Covid vaccine to make the 50th anniversary of the two countries' partnership meaningful.
“I look forward to seeing what our people will build together in the decades ahead as we continue to follow that star of freedom,” he said in a video message celebrating five decades of diplomatic ties between the two countries.
Secretary Blinken thanked Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen and Bangladesh Ambassador to the US M Shahidul Islam “for being the latest stewards of this crucial” relationship.
The United States recognized Bangladesh on April 4, 1972, in a press statement from Secretary of State William Rogers.
Also read: Ties between Bangladeshis, Americans deeper, more intertwined: Secretary Blinken
In addition, Herbert Spivack, the principal U.S. officer in Dhaka, delivered a message from President Richard Nixon to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman informing him that the United States government wished to establish diplomatic relations at the ambassadorial level.
FM reaches Washington; meeting with Blinken Monday
Bangladesh and the United States want to “enhance and deepen” their ties as the two countries will mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations on Monday.Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen reached Washington on Sunday, a day before holding a bilateral meeting with his US counterpart Antony Blinken at the US State Department.Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen, Bangladesh Ambassador to the US M Shahidul Islam will also join the meeting that will begin at 1pm (Washington DC).
Also read: Dhaka to seek Washington’s wider, diversified cooperationDuring his official visit to the US at the invitation of Secretary Blinken, Momen will meet USAID Administrator Samantha Power.Meanwhile, US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas on Sunday visited the Liberation War Museum to pay tribute to the memory of the martyrs of 1971 and re-affirmed Dhaka-Washington friendship.The United States recognized Bangladesh on April 4, 1972, in a press statement from the then Secretary of State William Rogers.In addition, Herbert Spivack, the then principal U.S. officer in Dhaka, delivered a message from President Richard Nixon to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman informing him that the US government wished to establish diplomatic relations at the ambassadorial level, according to Office of the Historian.
Also read: Dhaka invites more investments from SeoulThe United States and Bangladesh cooperate closely on a range of issues, including economics, security, governance and development.
Dhaka calls for joint efforts to build smarter BIMSTEC
Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen on Tuesday called for renewing joint efforts at building a "more effective and smarter" BIMSTEC as a result-oriented regional organization.
"The 5th BIMSTEC Summit would revitalize the BIMSTEC process with a stronger political commitment and substantive directives and guidanceof our leaders to chart the future trajectory of the BIMSTEC towards a higher level," he said.
Foreign Minister Momen, who led the Bangladesh delegation, was speaking at the eighteenth ministerial meeting of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) in the Sri Lankan capital city on eve of the 5th BIMSTEC Summit scheduled for March 30.
Secretary (East) Mashfee Binte Shams, Additional Foreign Secretary (SAARC and BIMSTEC) Md. Shamsul Haque, Rector, Foreign Service Academy Asad Alam Siam, High Commissioner of Bangladesh to Sri Lanka Tareq Md Ariful Islam, Director (SAARC and BIMSTEC) Md. Aminul Islam Khan, Director (FMO) Md. Emdadul Islam Chowdhury, among others, joined as Bangladesh delegation members.
Also read: Seminar held to commemorate 50 years of diplomatic relations with Germany
Sri Lanka Foreign Minister and Chairperson of the 18th BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting delivered opening remarks highlighting enormous potential that BIMSTEC holds in vast areas and laid emphasis on stronger cooperation for the benefit of whole region.
All parties need to join political process to make democracy work: FM
Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen on Wednesday said all political parties need to come to a political process to make democracy participatory.
“Other than this (elections), no alternative is known to me,” he said while responding to a question at a media briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs which was arranged ahead of the 5th BIMSTEC Summit.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam, Secretary (East) Mashfee Binte Shams and Additional Secretary (SAARC & BIMSTEC) Md. Shamsul Haque were present.
Momen said Bangladesh is big promoter of democracy and anybody can cast his or her vote freely in polls and claimed that vote rigging has come down significantly with the introduction of voters’ ID with photographs.
Momen, an MP from Sylhet, said democracy has been functioning smoothly in Bangladesh for the last 13 years.
"Now, under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, we have democratic environment. We have voter ID with photos. Our people are mentally very democratic. They want to participate and around 70-80 percent of people vote in our elections,” Momen said.
He said they believe in fairness and justice and don’t believe in any kind of discrimination “We are free of discrimination.”
Terming Bangladesh’s relations with the US very cordial, Momen said there is potential to deepen relations with the US much more in the coming days. “The relations will deepen because we have shared values of democracy.”
He said during the visit of US Under Secretary for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland on March 20, Bangladesh demanded withdrawal of the sanctions on elite force Rab and individuals and shared the remedial measures that Bangladesh has taken to improve their performance.
READ: FM not going to Pakistan; FS to represent Bangladesh in OIC CFM
"There were no deaths in the last three months. They (the US) are very happy. We said we are taking remedial measures. In fact, we have inbuilt measures. We have a judicial process. Sometimes it did not work right,” Momen said.
Momen is scheduled to meet US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Washington on April 4 marking the 50 years of diplomatic relationship between the two countries.
Momen receives letter with good sentiments from Blinken as Nuland arrives for dialogue
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen Saturday said he received a letter from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken containing some good sentiments on Bangladesh-US ties.
He said the US secretary of state expressed his hope to work on how they can create a new chapter in bilateral relations as the two countries mark 50 years of diplomatic relations.
Dr Momen is scheduled to visit Washington in early April and is scheduled to hold a meeting with his US counterpart.
The foreign minister made the remarks while talking to reporters after attending a programme in the city.
Read: Dhaka-Washington "Partnership Dialogue” Sunday; Under Secretary Nuland in city
Responding to a question, Dr Momen said the Bangladesh side will raise the sanctions issue during the Partnership Dialogue between the two countries Sunday.
"It's an important issue. We should raise it," said Momen, adding: The US imposed the sanctions on seven individuals and Rapid Action Battalion without any prior consultation.
Terming the US a friendly country, Dr Momen hoped that there would be a good discussion in the dialogue between the two countries.
Bangladesh wants to be partner of Saudi's green initiative
Bangladesh has requested oil-rich Saudi Arabia to take Bangladesh as a partner in its green initiative across the Middle East.
“Saudi Arabia has taken a great green initiative for the whole of the Middle East,” Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen told reporters after a meeting with his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal Bin Farhan Al Saud on Wednesday.
He said the Saudi government is planning to plant 50 billion saplings across the Middle East - 10 billion in Saudi Arabia and 40 billion in other Middle East countries.
Read: Will work together to expand cooperation with Bangladesh, says Saudi FM
“We’ve requested them for partnership with us. We want to give saplings and help grow those plants,” Momen said.
Earlier, Saudi Arabia announced it goal to reach “net zero” greenhouse gas emissions by 2060, joining more than 100 countries in a global effort to try and curb man-made climate change.
Prince Faisal left Dhaka for home on Wednesday afternoon ending his less than 24-hour official visit to Bangladesh.
FM Momen discusses issues of mutual interest with Turkish counterpart
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen had a bilateral meeting with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu on Saturday and discussed bilateral, regional and global issues.
They discussed issues of mutual interest and also the Rohingya stalemate.
Read: Continuous democratic process is behind country’s unprecedented development, says Hasina in UAE
Dr Momen is visiting Turkey to attend Antalya Diplomacy Forum 2022, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Dr Momen attended a roundtable on “Asia Anew: For sustainable regional growth” at the second Antalya Diplomacy Forum held in Antalya, Turkey.
Confident B’desh seeks global partnership to realize development dreams: FM
Bangladesh has sought global partnership to take its “steady growth trajectory” to another height for graduating to a developing country by 2024 and a developed nation by 2041.
“The message must be loud and clear – we add value – we are ready – partner with us,” said Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen while addressing at the Bangladesh Economic Forum 2022 in Dubai on Thursday.
Momen mentioned key areas of potential partnership - food, finance, design, connectivity, ports, power, energy and human resources, according to message received in Dhaka.
Read: Assistant teacher recruitment test in April to fill 45000 vacant posts at primary schools
He said they have established a new wing – the international trade, investment and technology wing - to deal and coordinate all trade and investment issues for supporting all relevant national authorities and ministries, including BIDA, BEZA, BSEC and High-Tech Park Authority and to closely work with them as “One-Government”.
PM’s Adviser Salman Fazlur Rahman, Chairman of Bangladesh Economic Zone Authority Sheikh Yousuf Harun, FBCCI President Md Jashim Uddin, representatives from the public and private sectors of both Bangladesh and the United Arab Emirates were present at the event.
Ex-finance minister Muhith’s health improves, says foreign minister
The health condition of former finance minister and Awami League advisory council member AMA Muhith has improved to some extent, the foreign minister said on Monday after visiting him at hospital.
Read: PM leaves Dhaka for Abu Dhabi Monday afternoon
“Muhith Bhai's physical condition is a bit better today (Monday),” said Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen in a Facebook post seeking blessings from everyone at home and abroad for his brother’s complete recovery.
28 Bangladeshi crew to return home soon: FM
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Saturday said 28 crew members of Bangladeshi ship "Banglar Samriddhi" will soon return home as they have safely crossed the border leaving war-ravaged Ukraine.
“They’ll soon return to Bangladesh,” he told reporters at a programme held in the Jatiya Press Club.
Bangladesh Ambassador to Poland Sultana Laila Hossain said the 28 crew members were on the way to Romania from Moldova and scheduled to reach there within few hours.
The government has made necessary arrangements for their return as their relatives are eagerly waiting to get reunited at home.
Earlier, the crew had been taken to a relatively safe place from the ship that came under attack leaving its third engineer dead on Wednesday.
The Foreign Minister, however, could not tell about the progress over bringing back the body of Engineer Hadisur Rahman who was killed during a rocket attack on the ship.
Expressing deep condolences to the near and dear ones of deceased Hadisur Rahman, the Russian Embassy in Dhaka on Thursday said the Russian side "bends every effort" to ensure safe departure of the Bangladeshi ship from the port.
The Command of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, relying on the objective monitoring data, has repeatedly stated that, during the retreat, the Ukrainian nationalists open indiscriminate fire and deliberately capture hostages, use them as a “human shield”, resorting to the well-known terrorists’ tactic, said the Embassy.
The BSC ship was positioned in the inner anchorage of Olvia port (Ukraine), when Hadisur was killed due to a missile attack.
Also read: Trying to shift stranded sailors from Ukraine to Romania, says Foreign Secy