Bangladesh
Bangladesh-US Foreign Minister receives invitation to visit Washington
Own Correspondent, Dhaka, February 10: On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of bilateral relations between Bangladesh and the United States, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken invited Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr. AK Abdul Momen to visit Washington, DC.
Sources in the Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday (February 9).
In this regard, Foreign Minister Dr. AK Abdul Momen told reporters, "I came to know about this invitation on Wednesday morning. The US State Department extended the invitation in a message through the Bangladesh Mission in Washington. Blinken had expressed interest in the meeting during a phone conversation last December."
A State Department official said in a statement that Blinken had expressed interest in meeting with Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr. AK Abdul Momen at his office in Washington, DC on April 4. After the rise of Dhaka as the capital of independent Bangladesh, on April 4, 1972, the then US administration recognized Bangladesh.
Foreign Ministry officials said that the Bangladesh Embassy in Washington and the US State Department have jointly initiated the celebration of the historic day at the Bangladesh Embassy. Blinken is also expected to take part. They also said that an initiative is being taken to organize a group with the celebration of this anniversary. US officials say Washington hopes the United States will strengthen ties with Bangladesh in many areas over the next 50 years.
The invitation comes amid a diplomatic and media criticism over the recent US sanctions on seven former and current officers of Bangladesh's RAB, accusing them of "grave human rights abuses".
