US happy over Sheikh Hasina’s govt’s development efforts, assures of necessary cooperation

February 07,2010

Visiting US Under-Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Judith A McHale highly praised the present government’s development initiatives and assured of providing all necessary cooperation in implementing development programmes, projects and plans. Judith A. McHale came up with the appreciation and assurance when she met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her official residence Jamuna Sunday morning. The US Under-Secretary of State also appreciated the government-sponsored new education policy and Sheikh Hasina’s role in tackling terrorism. Judith McHale hoped that the present democratic government of Bangladesh through its innovative initiatives and development programmes will be able to bring about socioeconomic prosperity for its people. Among other issues, bilateral relations between Bangladesh and the USA and Madrasah education in Bangladesh also came up for discussion. The Prime Minister and the Under-Secretary of State stressed the need for increasing people-to-people contact as one of the ways to further strengthen the existing bilateral relations between the two countries. Sheikh Hasina requested the US government to take best care of Bangladeshi expatriates living in the United States. She focused on US President Barack Obama’ Cairo speech and said the world people and humanity will be benefited if all aspects of the speech are reflected on global issues. The Prime Minister also called for more US investment in Bangladesh, as her government had been successful to create a congenial atmosphere for investment, trade and commerce. The Prime Minister and the US Under-Secretary also discussed the global climate change issue and its impacts on earth and its people.

Mentioning, the US President’s speech at the Copenhagen Climate Change Summit, the Prime Minister sought US cooperation in tackling the challenges of global warming.

US Ambassador in Dhaka James F Moriarty, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister MA Karim and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Abdus Sobhan Golap were also present.

Judith A McHale arrived here Saturday on a three-day visit considered significant in strengthening the bilateral ties and cooperation between Dhaka and Washington. McHale is the highest-ranking Obama administration’s official to visit Bangladesh after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina assumed office in January last year, the American Center said Thursday.