Shawdesh Desk:

United States assistant secretary of state for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu will meet with government officials, civil society leaders, and other Bangladeshis to discuss US-Bangladesh cooperation, including on addressing the climate crisis and deepening economic ties, during his upcoming visit to Dhaka.

The information was revealed in a media note of the Office of the Spokesperson of US Department of State on Thursday. The media note is available on the State Department’s website.

‘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,’ the media note read.

It said that Donald Lu would conclude his trip in Dhaka.

‘In Chennai, Assistant Secretary Lu will meet with Consulate personnel to bolster bilateral engagement in southern India,’ it said.

‘He will then travel to Colombo to engage with officials from across the political spectrum and deepen the United States’ partnership with Sri Lanka. In his meetings, he will reaffirm the United States’ support for Sri Lanka’s economic recovery, as well as the importance of a robust civil society as a cornerstone of a free and democratic society,’ the media note said.

A diplomatic source in the past week indicated that Lu might be in Dhaka on May 14 on a two-day visit, which is seen as an opportunity to discuss ways for future cooperation.

Earlier on Wednesday, Bangladesh foreign minister Hasan Mahmud said that Unites States assistant secretary of State for the bureau of South and Central Asian affairs Donald Lu’s upcoming visit will have a focus on the Rohingya crisis.