Govt mindful of smooth functioning of GB

Dipu Moni tells new US ambassador

29 November 2011, 18:00 PM

Diplomatic Correspondent

Further clarifying the status, Foreign Minister Dipu Moni said Grameen Bank is "purely a statutory body" and in no way an NGO. She was speaking to the new US Ambassador in Dhaka Dan W Mozena when he met her at the foreign ministry yesterday morning. The foreign minister assured the US envoy that the government is very mindful about smooth functioning of Grameen Bank and welfare of its borrowers, most of whom are poor women. A wide range of issues concerning the bilateral relations between the US and Bangladesh was discussed during the meeting, said a press release. Terming Bangladesh-US relations a genuine partnership, Dipu Moni mentioned that the cooperation between the two countries has been very effective. Mozena said Bangladesh matters to the US as it is a country endowed with a huge number of creative, energetic and, most importantly, resilient people. He said the US views Bangladesh as a moderate, secular and democratic country which has been playing an important role in stabilising a troubled South Asia. The US envoy outlined his vision of creating an environment with a broader, deeper and expanded engagement with Bangladesh to develop a strategic partnership between the US and Bangladesh. Mozena hoped that the draft anti-trafficking in persons law would be passed soon.