Bangladesh delegation at the second Bangladesh-USA Partnership Dialogue that began here on Sunday highlighted the importance of market access of Bangladeshis products to the US, prospects of US investment here and energy cooperation.
Issues like Bangladesh’s accession to the Millennium Challenge accounts, women empowerment, cooperation in higher studies, US development cooperation, climate change, food security were highlighted in the first day dialogue that concentrated on working group discussions on trade and commerce, development and governance and security cooperation.
The security cooperation session discussed the possibility of expanding cooperation in the areas of counterterrorism, UN Peacekeeping & Peace building operations and traditional and no-traditional security cooperation.
The two sides will meet tomorrow at Plenary to discuss global and regional issues, said a Foreign Ministry media note.
Meanwhile, leader of the US delegation Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy R Sherman arrived here this afternoon and met Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni at the latter’s office.
Issues like duty- and quota-free access of Bangladeshi products to the US market, success of women empowerment in Bangladesh, tragic accidents of Rana Plaza and Tazreen Fashions, and labour law reform were discussed among other issues at the meeting.
The Foreign Minister highlighted government’s initiatives to improve the workers’ safety in Bangladesh.
She mentioned that RMG is a huge sector and hoped that friendly countries would appreciate the initiatives being taken by the government to improve the situation.
The Under Secretary Sherman said Bangladesh is a leader in the RMG export and the USA does not want any damage to the industry.
She further said Bangladesh is a regional leader on issues like countering terrorism, empowering women, and enhancing regional connectivity.
Source: UNB Connect
