US Assistant Secretary Paul Kapur calls on Foreign Minister

US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Paul Kapur called on Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday during his two-day visit to Dhaka.

During the meeting, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening bilateral relations, including economic engagement, based on mutual respect and shared interests.

Dr Khalilur highlighted the ‘Bangladesh First’ policy of the current government under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. He also underlined Bangladesh’s approach to maintaining strong relations with regional and global partners to promote national interests and shared prosperity.

Assistant Secretary Paul Kapur expressed satisfaction over what he described as a peaceful, free and festive general election in Bangladesh and felicitated the new government led by the prime minister on assuming office. He referred to a congratulatory letter from US President Donald Trump addressed to the prime minister and expressed confidence that ties between the two countries would grow stronger in the coming days.

Kapur also stressed the importance of implementing the provisions of the agreement on reciprocal trade to boost bilateral trade and investment. The foreign minister reiterated the government’s commitment to policy continuity, particularly in the economic sector.

The recent escalation in the Middle East also featured in the discussion. Dr Khalilur emphasised the need for restraint by all parties and called for an early resolution of the conflict through dialogue and diplomatic means to minimise loss of life and prevent further destabilisation in the region and beyond.

The Rohingya issue was also discussed. The foreign minister thanked the United States for its continued humanitarian support for the Rohingyas and sought sustained international backing for a durable solution to the crisis.

Both sides expressed optimism that regular high-level engagements and institutional dialogues would continue to deepen Bangladesh–US relations in the coming years.

Earlier, Kapur held a brief meeting with State Minister Shama Obaed Islam.