Dhaka-Washington talks in June to discuss terrorism

The 5th Partnership Dialogue in Washington on June 24-25 is expected to offer strategies and strengthen security cooperation with the US towards countering terrorism and violent extremism in Bangladesh.

Dhaka is expected to reiterate its “Zero Tolerance Policy” treating “terrorists as terrorists as they don't have any border and religion”. The US is expected to raise concerns like “safety and security” of its diplomats and embassy staff and ask for full proof security, said diplomatic sources.

Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque and US Under Secretary for Political Affairs Thomas A Shannon are expected to lead the delegations.

Yesterday an inter-ministerial meeting centring the dialogue was held at the foreign ministry with Shahidul in the chair and attended by representatives from the ministries of home, foreign, commerce, energy, food and disaster management, economic relations and the armed forces.

Issues including development and governance, trade and investment, labour, regional connectivity, climate change and food security are also expected to be discussed at the dialogue, said meeting sources.

The last dialogue in Dhaka in May 2015 had included the issues of environment, health and infectious diseases and “Blue Economy”.