2 senior US officials due tomorrow

Counsellor of the US Department of State Thomas Shannon arrives here tomorrow to discuss issues like security, trade, development and countering extremism.

He will be accompanied by US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Nisha Desai Biswal and Deputy Assistant Secretary for South Asia Manpreet Singh Anand, according to a media note received from the US Department of State yesterday.

“His trip will highlight the strength and durability of the US-Bangladesh relationship and continued gains to be made in security, trade, development, the environment, and countering violent extremism,” the media note reads.

Shannon, also undersecretary for political affairs, will meet senior government and parliamentary leaders, as well as media, civil society representatives, and labour representatives. He will also visit a USAID-funded healthcare clinic.

He will also attend a seminar on “The US-Bangladesh Relationship: Working Together on Global Issues” tomorrow in the city.

US Secretary of State John Kerry on September 18 announced the nomination of Thomas A Shannon as the State Department's next under secretary for political affairs.

During the two US diplomats' visit, they are expected to meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali, high government officials and political leaders.

They are also expected to hold a bilateral meeting with Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque.

According to diplomatic sources, Bangladesh's current political and security situation, governance and bilateral relations will dominate talks between the US diplomats and high government officials in Dhaka.

Dhaka's relations with Washington were strained recently after several ministers blamed the USA for “conspiring to establish that the global terror outfit is active in Bangladesh”.

Shannon will leave Dhaka on Monday for Sri Lanka.