Peter Haas for growing defence ties with Dhaka

US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas told Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday that the US looks forward to growing its defence cooperation with Bangladesh.

During his first courtesy call since he arrived in Dhaka on March 1, Hasina said people were suffering due to Covid-19, Russia-Ukraine war and the Western sanctions on Russia, but her government was trying to work for the wellbeing of the people.

Regarding the graduation from LDC, the PM said her government, after winning the election in 2008, took different measures to uplift Bangladesh as a developing nation. Now, despite the setback of Covid-19, Russia-Ukraine war and the sanctions, Bangladesh will continue to grow.

According to a US embassy statement, Hasina and Haas discussed a range of bilateral issues, including economic development, security, climate change, Rohingya refugee assistance, and Covid-19 at the meeting in the Gono Bhaban.

The US-Bangladesh relations saw strains in recent times, especially after the Biden Administration imposed sanctions on Rab and seven of its current and former top officials on December 10 for human rights violations.

Earlier, Washington did not invite Bangladesh to its Summit of Democracy, frustrating Dhaka.

Washington, however, continues to hold the bilateral meetings and considers Dhaka as its important partner in development and strategic cooperation.

The US also wants Bangladesh to sign two defence deals, General Security of Military Information Agreement and the Acquisition Cross-Servicing Agreement, as Bangladesh seeks to buy advanced military equipment.

"During our meeting, I told Honourable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina that I think one of our proudest joint achievements was in how we worked together to respond to the Covid-19 crisis," said Ambassador Haas.

"I commend Bangladesh's effort to vaccinate over 70 percent of its entire population."

BSS reports that the US wants Bangladesh as partner in "Global Covid Action Plan".

"A minister-level special session of US-Bangladesh along with other stakeholders would be held on the sidelines of UN General Assembly," Haas said, terming Bangladesh's vaccination amazing and remarkable.

While briefing reporters, PM's Deputy Press Secretary Hasan Jahid Tusher said Haas praised the graduation of Bangladesh to a developing nation under Hasina's leadership.