Dhaka and Washington have agreed to widen security cooperation as it is a key component in bilateral relations.
Both the countries are on the same page in working together on human security in future.
The issue was discussed at the seventh Bangladesh-US Security Dialogue concluded in Dhaka Thursday.
An official of the foreign ministry said, “It was Bangladesh proposal to work on non-traditional security that includes food, energy, climate change and other themes.”
We want to work at ‘Track 1.5’ and will select a theme, which will be discussed round the year by government officials, think-tank, academia, experts and media, he said.
“The theme will be selected through diplomatic channel,” he added.
Another official said, in the dialogue Washington has substantially increased assistance for military training.
He said, both the sides identified that information and data sharing is a very vital area of cooperation in nabbing terrorists and preventing crimes.
Both the sides also discussed about the pending agreements.
Meanwhile, a press release of the foreign ministry said, “The US side reiterated its support to the armed forces and law enforcers of Bangladesh in enhancing capacity through various forms of trainings, sharing of information, sophisticated equipment and joint exercises.”
The Rohingya issue was identified as threat multiplier in regional and global contexts and the US side assured to remain beside Bangladesh in executing a sustainable and dignified return of Rohingyas to Myanmar.
The two sides also discussed the issue of re-introducing Bangladesh Biman flight between Dhaka and New York.
Dhaka requested Washington to return Rashed Chowdhury, a convicted killer of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, to Bangladesh to face justice.
Peacekeeping, military to military cooperation, security assistance, defense trade, counterterrorism, countering violent extremism, border and regional issues, vision of a Free and Open Indo-Pacific, human security and border issues were discussed in the dialogue.
Director General of Americas Wing of the Foreign Ministry Ferdousi Shahriar and Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of the Political Military Affairs, US State Department Michael F. Miller led the respective side in the dialogue.