Top US diplomat coming to Dhaka

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Lalit K Jha, Washington
Published : 23:31, Oct 19, 2018 | Updated : 23:35, Oct 19, 2018

Alice G. Wells. PHOTO/Flickr_US Department of StateA top US diplomat is travelling to Dhaka this week to hold talks with officials on strengthening US-Bangladesh relationship and also to Cox Bazaar to have firsthand assessment of the Rohingya refugee’s situation.
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs Alice Wells will travel to Dhaka and Cox’s Bazar from Oct 20 to Oct 23, the State Department said in a statement.
“In Dhaka, she will meet with senior officials from the Government of Bangladesh to discuss strengthening the US-Bangladesh partnership and our collaboration on building a prosperous, secure, and interconnected Indo-Pacific region,” the State Department said.
On Oct 21, Wells will travel to Cox’s Bazar to visit refugee camps sheltering nearly one million Rohingya, most of whom fled Burma in the wake of ethnic cleansing perpetrated by the Burmese military in Rakhine State.
In Cox’s Bazaar, she will meet officials from UN organizations, NGOs, and local government to discuss their efforts to ensure assistance reaches the affected populations.
“Throughout her trip, she will express appreciation for Bangladesh’s continued generosity in responding to the refugee crisis and support for the upcoming elections,” the State Department said.
In August 2017, Alice Wells visited Dhaka and had an audience with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.In August 2017, Alice Wells visited Dhaka and had an audience with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
The Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Carl Risch will also head to Bangladesh and India next week to participate in a series of meetings with the diplomats and foreign government authorities.
While on this trip, Risch will engage in bilateral discussions with Indian counterparts on issues relevant to international parental child abduction and US visas, the State Department said.
The US is committed to long-term engagement with Bangladesh and India on a variety of consular issues.

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