Political situation, upcoming election, Bangladesh-US partnership dialogue, labour issues and Grameen Bank would be the major areas of discussion when US Assistant Secretary of State Nisha Desai Biswal would meet Bangladesh officials during her three-day visit, officials have said.
Nisha, the newly appointed US assistant secretary responsible for South Asia, is expected in Dhaka on November 16.
The US assistant secretary would hold an official meeting with Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque on November 18 where she is likely to discuss the third partnership dialogue to be held next year in Washington, Mahfuzur Rahman, director general of the Americas Desk at the foreign ministry, told the Dhaka Tribune.
“Labour, readymade garment sector and Grameen Bank are the interest areas of Washington and she is expected to raise the issues during her meeting with the foreign secretary,” said a diplomat.
She is also likely to hold meetings with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Foreign Minister Dipu Moni where she is expected to discuss politics and election issues, he added. “She will also meet members of the civil society.”
When asked if she would meet BNP chairperson Khaldea Zia, the diplomat said it was a practice of senior US officials to meet the leader of the opposition.
Her predecessor Robert O’ Blake, during his visits to Dhaka, met Khaldea Zia. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also met Khaldea at her Gulshan residence in 2011.
