Dhaka-Washington ties stronger than ever: Mozena
“They need a dialogue…we had that conversation,” the US envoy told reporters after a meeting with Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni at her office.
Expressing his hope over political dialogue, Mozena, referring to media reports, said in fact there has been discussion (informally) and hoped that it will lead to somewhere some kinds of constructive dialogue leading to free, fair and credible polls.
During the meeting with Dipu Moni, he said, they talked about the upcoming trip to Washington. “She’ll be in Washington for a meeting with Secretary John Kerry on May 17. I’m very excited about that meeting.”
Mozena said it will be her (Dipu) initial meeting with Secretary Kerry and they have a lot to talk about. “Most importantly, they’ll asses the relationship between two parties which is broader, deeper and stronger than anytime since 1972 when America and Bangladesh had established relationship.”
During the meeting with Secretary Kerry, Mozena said, they will be discussing ways to take the relationship to a higher flight and they will be talking about the Bangladesh-US Partnership Dialogue that will come up at the end of May (May 26).
The US diplomat informed that US Under Secretary for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman will be here leading a whole delegation of the US, including a private sector delegation.
Wendy Sherman will lead the US delegation while Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque the Bangladesh side to the two-day dialogue, he added.
The US envoy said the Savar tragedy and GSP issue that will be closed very soon will be discussed at the meeting between Dipu Moni and John Kerry in Washington.
Mozena again expressed his deepest shock at the Savar tragedy and ‘horrible loss of lives’, which is now over 900. “It’s heartbreaking.”
Responding to a question on verdict against M Kamaruzzaman, Mozena said, “Actually, we didn’t talk about that.”
The US Ambassador also said development of partnership, global climate change issue and renewable energy were also discussed at the meeting with the Foreign Minister.