US state dept reps meet Bangladesh Home boss

A two-member US State Department delegation met with high-level officials here yesterday and discussed Bangladesh's bilateral relations with the United States, its security situation, and regional issues.

Diplomatic sources in Dhaka consider the visit and meetings with ministers and high-officials important against the backdrop of killings of two foreigners and concerns over the threat against foreigners.

The US officials, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary (PDAS) for South and Central Asian Affairs William E. Todd and Director of South and Central Asian Affairs for Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh, Clinton Brown, visited Dhaka on November 4-6, left on November 6 for Colombo, then returned yesterday for additional meetings and left for the US yesterday night.

During their first visit, the US delegation had meetings with the home minister and other government officials, while yesterday they spoke with Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali and had a meeting with Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque at the state guesthouse, Padma.

Bangladesh officials said the US already has a wide range of collaboration with Bangladesh in counterterrorism and countering violent extremism, and eager to expand their cooperation.