Talks with US just start, it might take a bit of time to get final shape: FS

Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin on Sunday said Bangladesh and the United States discussed Bangladesh’s financial sector’s reforms broadly, noting that the discussion will be seen as the foundation to take forward the discussion for a meaningful engagement.

“We think it is a foundation for a meaningful engagement with the US. We will take forward this discussion at various levels in the future. It is a good foundation to move ahead,” he told reporters at state guesthouse Padma giving an idea about what they discussed in a series of meetings.

The Foreign Secretary said they have broadly discussed the financial sector’s reforms and primarily discussed the issue of money laundering as Bangladesh can use the US expertise in this regard.

“Discussion has just started. It might take a bit of time to get a final shape,” he said, adding that the US side reiterated its willingness to work closely with the interim government.
The US side has assured of their support in the areas as Bangladesh identified some sectors for reforms in the financial sector.

“The conversation will continue,” he said, adding that Bangladesh informed the US delegation about steps taken on the labour front which the US sees as significant progress.

The visiting US delegation met Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain and Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed.

Foreign Secretary Jashim Uddin hosted a working lunch at state guesthouse Padma.

Asked whether any issue related to India was discussed, the Foreign Secretary said there are separate platforms for discussing issues between Bangladesh and India. “So, such an issue was not discussed here.”

On the possibility of meeting US President Joe Biden at the UNGA by Chief Adviser Prof Yunus, he said the US President does not hold any bilateral meetings when he goes to UNGA.

But there is likely to be a reception and if their schedules are matched, they may get a chance to meet each other, he added.

Assistant Secretary for International Finance at the US Department of the Treasury Brent Neiman, US Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu, Principal Coordinator on SDGs Affairs Lamiya Morshed, Chief Adviser’s Special Envoy on International Affairs Lutfey Siddiqi and Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin, among others, joined the meeting.