The first ever high-level US, Bangladesh consultation on economic partnership took place on Wednesday through a virtual platform. During the meeting both co-chairs and participants shared their thoughts on developing a vision to advance bilateral economic partnership between the two countries in all potential areas.

The first ever high-level US, Bangladesh consultation on economic partnership took place on Wednesday through a virtual platform. During the meeting both co-chairs and participants shared their thoughts on developing a vision to advance bilateral economic partnership between the two countries in all potential areas. The two sides emphasised on the need for close cooperation between the government and industry to address the continually evolving challenges related to health and economy amid the coronavirus crisis and the post-COVID-19 global pandemic situation. In the meeting, advisor Rahman underscored that Bangladesh would continue to pursue economic diplomacy pro-actively with neighbouring, regional and global players as he welcomed US interest and involvement in the new initiative. Several important issues were discussed in the meeting including public health cooperation, investment, digital policy, blue economy, agricultural capacity building, energy, transportation and infrastructure development and ways to enhance the overall economic partnership between Bangladesh and United States. Adviser Rahman during the meeting said that the US is Bangladesh's single largest export destination and also the largest investor. Undersecretary Krach appreciated the Bangladesh government's initiative to attract foreign direct investment(FDI). The co-chairs expressed their optimism that US companies would take advantage of Bangladesh's competitiveness and invest in ICT, energy and pharmaceuticals. Both sides noted the excellent cooperation during the COVID-19 pandemic while highlighting the supply of world class PPE by Bangladesh to the US in a short time. The two sides signed an air transport agreement with the hope to continue positive engagement between US federal Aviation Administration(FAA) and Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh(CAAB) The meeting was attended by MP Salman F. Rahman, the adviser for private industry and investment to the PM of Bangladesh and Keith Krach, US undersecretary of state for economic growth, energy and environment and co-chaired by MP Md Shahriar Alam, state minister for foreign affairs, Bangladesh ambassador to USA, Principal secretary to PM and senior officials from various departments and ministries of both countries.

US, Bangladesh take part in high-level consultation on economic partnership

US secretary of state John Kerry said today there was evidence to link operatives in Bangladesh to the Islamic State group. 
 
Referring to the recent spate of attacks, Kerry promised help with intelligence and law enforcement.&nbsp; 
 
The blunt statement followed the July 1 attack on a cafe in an upscale district of the Bangladeshi capital, Dhaka, in which 22 people were killed - mostly non-Muslims and foreigners, including one American. 
 
The statement, however, contradicted the narrative of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina&#39;s government, which has blamed homegrown militants and denied a foreign hand in the hostage taking at the Holey Artisan Bakery that was claimed by Islamic State. 
 
Bangladesh&#39;s government has staunchly denied that IS or any international jihadist network has gained a foothold in the country. 
 
Kerry however rejected the idea that Hasina`s administration was in denial about the nature of the extremist threat that it faced, the AFP reported. 
 
&quot;I don&#39;t believe that the government of Bangladesh has its head in the sand. I do not believe that,&quot; the report quoted him as saying in a speech in Dhaka where he was paying a one-day visit. 
 
According to AFP, the top US diplomat said that the two governments had agreed on increased cooperation between their respective intelligence agencies. 
 
&quot;The (foreign) minister (Mahmood Ali) was very, and the prime minister was very clear (at) the desire to cooperate with us very very closely,&quot; he said. 
 
The cafe raid was the most shocking of a series of atrocities that has included killings of atheist intellectuals, people from religious and sexual minorities and foreigners, raising fears over the stability of the mainly Muslim nation of 160 million. 
 
(WION with inputs from AFP, Reuters)

The blunt statement, however, contradicted the narrative of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government which has blamed homegrown militants

US secretary of state John Kerry said today there was evidence to link operatives in Bangladesh to the Islamic State group. Referring to the recent spate of attacks, Kerry promised help with intelligence and law enforcement. The blunt statement followed the July 1 attack on a cafe in an upscale district of the Bangladeshi capital, Dhaka, in which 22 people were killed - mostly non-Muslims and foreigners, including one American. The statement, however, contradicted the narrative of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government, which has blamed homegrown militants and denied a foreign hand in the hostage taking at the Holey Artisan Bakery that was claimed by Islamic State. Bangladesh's government has staunchly denied that IS or any international jihadist network has gained a foothold in the country. Kerry however rejected the idea that Hasina`s administration was in denial about the nature of the extremist threat that it faced, the AFP reported. "I don't believe that the government of Bangladesh has its head in the sand. I do not believe that," the report quoted him as saying in a speech in Dhaka where he was paying a one-day visit. According to AFP, the top US diplomat said that the two governments had agreed on increased cooperation between their respective intelligence agencies. "The (foreign) minister (Mahmood Ali) was very, and the prime minister was very clear (at) the desire to cooperate with us very very closely," he said. The cafe raid was the most shocking of a series of atrocities that has included killings of atheist intellectuals, people from religious and sexual minorities and foreigners, raising fears over the stability of the mainly Muslim nation of 160 million. (WION with inputs from AFP, Reuters)

Evidence to link Bangladesh extremists to Islamic State: John Kerry

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US, Bangladesh take part in high-level consultation on economic partnership

Evidence to link Bangladesh extremists to Islamic State: John Kerry