Donald Lu arrives in Dhaka via Delhi on Saturday

A high-level six-member delegation led by Deputy Under Secretary Brent Neiman will arrive in Dhaka on Saturday (September 13) on a three-day visit to Bangladesh.

The delegation also includes US State Department Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asia Donald Lu and USAID Deputy Assistant Administrator for Asia Anjali Kaur.

Besides, Lindsey W Ford, deputy assistant secretary of Defense for South and Southeast Asia, and Donald Lu, assistant secretary, Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, will be in the delegation, among others.

It is learnt that the US delegation will also consist of representatives from the US National Security Council, State Department, Treasury and international donor agencies.

During their Dhaka visit, members of the delegation will hold meetings with the Chief Adviser and other Advisers.

The issues related to strengthening bilateral relations between Bangladesh and the United States will get emphasis during the meetings.

The members of the delegation will also will try to learn and understand the expectations and demands of Bangladesh. Then they will return to Washington and finalise on how Bangladesh can be provided with assistance at the policy level.

Sources said the US delegation is scheduled to hold meetings with chief adviser to the interim government Dr Muhammad Yunus, finance adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed and foreign affairs adviser Touhid Hossain.

Officials of the Bangladesh mission discussed the matter with the US officials at the State Department in Washington last week.

Besides, the US delegation may exchange views with leaders of the student-people movement, political parties and civil society representatives in Dhaka.

This will also be Donald Lu’s second visit to Dhaka this year. He first visited Bangladesh in May this year.

However, Donald Lu will arrive in Dhaka via New Delhi. He will chair an inter-sessional dialogue related to issues of defence between Washington and Delhi. Apart from bilateral issues between the United States and India, Bangladesh issue is likely to get emphasis at the dialogue.