Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen on Thursday said the upcoming visit of the European Union delegation would be exclusively focused on the general elections while the US delegation's visit would have a mixed focus.
He made the comment as US Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy, Uzra Zeya's visit on July 11-14 generated a lot of speculation in Dhaka. The visit coincides with the European Union delegation's visit from July 8-23.
“We have broader relations with the US. Election is an issue. But they will discuss human rights, labour rights, trade and so many other issues,” the foreign secretary said while replying to a question.
“The European Union delegation is exclusively election focused as they are exploring the feasibility of sending observers for the upcoming general elections,” he said.
Every foreign delegation's visit is drawing a lot of attention following the US's announcement of the new visa policy related to the Bangladesh elections.
Indian External Affairs Secretary (East) Saurabh Kumar's visit comes just days before the arrival of the US delegation, generating media speculations.
The purpose of his visit was said to be the Bimstec, however, the Bimstec Secretary General Tenzin Lekphell was not present during the meeting with the foreign secretary.
The foreign secretary said such speculations are “baseless”.
“His (Bimstec secretary-general) mother died. They (Bhutanese) have so many rituals to do after the death of their parents. That's why he was absent,” he said.
“It's very common that visits of foreign delegations take place one after another. It's not orchestrated,” he said.
Earlier, in the weekly media briefing at the ministry, Mohammad Rafiqul Alam, director general (additional charge) of the Public Diplomacy Wing, said US's South and Central Asia Bureau's Assistant Secretary Donald Lu, US Agency for International Development (Usaid) Asia Bureau's Deputy Assistant Administrator Änjali Kaur will accompany Under Secretary Uzra Zeya during the visit.
Alam said her visit is aimed at taking the friendly relations between the countries forward and strengthening communications between the governments.
During the visit, the delegation would also go to the Rohingya camp in Cox's Bazar apart from other engagements.
On the EU's election exploratory mission, Alam said the delegation would have six members. They will observe the feasibility of election monitoring including making plans, budgets, logistics and security issues.
During their visit, he said, they would meet government officials, Election Commission officials, the international community, law enforcement agencies, political leaders, members of the civil society, and the media.
“They are visiting at the invitation of the Election Commission,” he said, adding that based on their report, the EU would decide whether they would send an election observer mission for the upcoming national polls.
