US official to hold talks on trade, security in Bangladesh

Feb 3, 2009, 6:46 GMT

   Dhaka - A senior US diplomat is expected to visit Bangladesh on February 7 for talks on a number of issues including security and trade, officials said Tuesday.

   US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Richard Boucher is tentatively scheduled to arrive Saturday on a three-day visit, an official at the US embassy said.

   Diplomatic sources in Dhaka said Boucher would focus mainly on issues related to anti-terrorism from a broad South Asian perspective as Bangladesh's new government of Sheikh Hasina Wazed has proposed a regional taskforce to combat terrorism.

   Two military officials of the US Special Operation Command (SOCOM) and US Pacific Command (PACOM) are currently in Dhaka meeting senior officials to strengthen bilateral and regional security cooperation.

   'Together, the US commands SOCOM and PACOM provide security force assistance to partners to help combat terrorism,' the US embassy said.

   They will meet with officials of the Home Ministry and armed forces to discuss US funds for humanitarian assistance as well as security and US-Bangladesh cooperation against terrorism.

Dhaka will also press for duty-free and quota-free access of Bangladeshi products in US market. A proposed bilateral trade agreement is expected to be discussed.

Boucher last visited Bangladesh in May 2008, when the country was ruled by the military-installed government of Fakhruddin Ahmed under a state of emergency.