Shawdesh Desk;

Foreign minister Hasan Mahmud said that the issues relating to the United States’ visa policy for Bangladesh announced before the January 7 elections and Dhaka’s call for withdrawal of restrictions on Rapid Action Battalion might come up during the visit of Donald Lu, the US assistant secretary of state for South and  Central Asian affairs.

He, however, said Bangladesh had a very good relation with the US and the US president Joe Biden had conveyed in a message to prime minister Sheikh Hasina, on her assumption to office for the fourth consecutive term in January, to take the relation to a new height.

‘As these issues left some marks on our relation, easing the US visa policy and withdrawal of their restrictions on RAB may naturally come up for discussion during the visit of Donald Lu,’ the foreign minister told reporters at his Segunbagicha office on Monday.

He said that both sides would also discuss economic ties and ways to enhance the relation further.

Donald Lu is expected to arrive in Dhaka today as per the schedule announced by the US Department of State on May 9.

‘Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu will travel to India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh May 10—15. His trip will strengthen bilateral cooperation with each country and demonstrate U.S. support for a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region,’ said the US Department of State in a release.

Assistant secretary Lu will conclude his tri-nation trip in Dhaka, where he will meet with government officials, civil society leaders, and other Bangladeshis to discuss US-Bangladesh cooperation, including addressing the climate crisis and deepening economic ties, said the release.

US assistant secretary of state Donald Lu during his last visit to Bangladesh in January 2023 conveyed to the government that the US wanted the general elections in Bangladesh to be held in a free and fair manner while expressing its commitment to democracy.

In September, 2023, the US Department of State announced that it had started imposing visa restrictions on individuals involved in undermining the democratic election process in Bangladesh.

The announcement came at a time when the Election Commission of Bangladesh started making preparations for the January 7 election.

In December 2021, the US imposed sanctions against seven former and serving officials of the RAB and the force itself over allegations of rights abuse.

Dhaka on several occasions called upon the US authorities for the withdrawal of the sanctions.