Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen has said the United States wants to deepen bilateral relations in all aspects while Dhaka seeks frequent meetings to prevent gaps in ties.
"We have multifaceted relations that demand we meet frequently so that there are no gaps created (in bilateral relations)," he told reporters after Mira Resnick, US deputy assistant secretary of state for regional security at the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, called on him on Tuesday.
Before the meeting, Resnick led the US side in an annual security dialogue, while Khandker Masudul Alam, director general (North America), led the Bangladesh side.
The foreign secretary said the visiting delegation had expressed satisfaction with the security dialogue where all security issues such as cybersecurity, Indo-Pacific outlook, energy security and human rights had been discussed.
Momen said members of relevant stakeholders, including the armed forces and police, had taken part in the security dialogue.
The dialogue covered almost all security issues, except "pure" military issues, according to the secretary.
"They (US) want to deepen relations with Bangladesh… on the economic side, on the political side, on all sides," he said.
"We suggested frequent meetings… it is not that we have to agree on all issues; we can convey our perspectives, and at the same time they can tell [us] their expectations."
Replying to a question, he said the US side had also inquired about Bangladesh’s upcoming general election. "We told them that the election will be free and fair; the Election Commission is taking preparations."
Momen said the two sides had also discussed US sanctions on Bangladesh’s elite police force RAB.
"What we said is that every allegation that is raised on human rights issues, every report that comes, we do not take them lightly. We talk to the forces and convey their answers to the outside world. We do not allow any impunity in our country. We have SOPs (standard operating procedures) for each force. Even if you fire a single bullet, you have to be accountable," he said.
"If someone in our forces does something, action is taken as per the SOPs of the force. We have responded in writing on the RAB issue. They have their own process. We are aware of this. There is no chance of impunity here," he said.
Against any country's dominance in Indo-Pacific
The foreign secretary said the two sides had discussed the commonalities of the Indo-Pacific policies of both countries. There were many similarities between the Indo-Pacific policies of Bangladesh and the US, he emphasized.
Neither country wanted any specific nation to dominate the region or to be an obstacle to free navigation in the Indo-Pacific, he said, without naming any country.
However, China is seen as the rival of the US's Indo-Pacific policy. China pursues its own Belt and Road Initiative, which Bangladesh is a part of.
The secretary said the US was aware of Bangladesh's Indo-Pacific outlook.
"Our expectation is free movement, to fully utilize the economic potential here... They (the US) also agree on that. So they, too, do not want a particular country to dominate here, or to be a barrier to free movement."
Security co-op key component in bilateral relations
Meanwhile, the foreign ministry issued a statement after the ninth Bangladesh-US security dialogue.
The dialogue covered various traditional and non-traditional security issues of mutual interest, including the Indo-Pacific outlook of Bangladesh and the Indo-Pacific strategy of the US, upcoming national election, security assistance, defence trade and cooperation, counter-terrorism and violent extremism, transnational crimes, and broader regional security issues.
The two sides agreed to strengthen cooperation in both civil and military security domains.
They also discussed non-traditional security issues, including climate change, energy security and transnational crimes.
"The meeting noted security cooperation as a key component in bilateral relations," the ministry said.
Bangladesh reiterated its stated position of “zero-tolerance” against any form of terrorism and emphasized continued cooperation to combat terrorism and violent extremism.
The US side reiterated its support for Bangladesh’s armed forces and law enforcement agencies in enhancing their capacity through various forms of trainings, information sharing and joint exercises.
It also responded affirmatively to Bangladesh’s call for working together in the maritime security matters.
Bangladesh reiterated that repatriation of Rohingyas was the ultimate solution to the protracted crisis and sought greater international support to resolve the issue.
The US side lauded Bangladesh for hosting more than a million Rohingyas and assured Dhaka of support in extending humanitarian assistance.
