DHAKA, Dec 20, 2022 (BSS)-Foreign Minister Dr A K Abdul Momen today said the relation between Dhaka and Washington is “very good” while wiping off all speculations of imposing any fresh sanction on Bangladesh by the US.

 
“We have very good relations with the US- they (Washington) give us suggestions as we have very good terms,” he told the media after attending a seminar at Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS).
       
The foreign minister said Dhaka and Washington have much bilateral engagement while Bangladesh and the US had 16 different meetings in this year.
 
When asked whether the government is concerned about new sanctions from the US, the foreign minister said “there is nothing to worry”.

He said the US puts sanctions in thousands and their sanctions come one way and go another way.

The foreign minister said there are many examples that US withdraw their imposed sections in many occasions.  
      
The BIISS organized the event titled “Research Colloquium 2022” where it’s Chairman Ambassador Kazi Imtiaz Hossain and its Director General Major General Sheikh Pasha Habib Uddin also spoke.

The event was divided into three sessions. In each session, three speakers presented their recent research that concerns Bangladesh's national interest.
The first session was on Bangladesh’s regional and global outreach which was chaired by BIISS Chairman.

Session two was on security and strategic affairs chaired by former Chief of Army Staff of Bangladesh, General (retd) Md Abdul Mubeen.

The third session highlighted “Diplomacy and Negotiations” which was chaired by Professor Dr Imtiaz Ahmed of the Dhaka University.

In their discussions and presentations, speakers focused on the critical issues of national interest that involve regional and international affairs security, and developmental aspects.

Some pertinent issues like LDC graduation, climate diplomacy and COP 27, cyber security, the impacts of the Russia-Ukraine War and the US-China competition also came up in the deliberations.

As a part of regional and global outreach, the role of Bangladesh’s foreign
missions is utterly emphasized for diversifying the exports and its markets.
 
Speakers also stressed on economic diplomacy which has been proven successful in ensuring the development of Bangladesh in the last couple of decades.
 
Discussants also highlighted maritime security and competition around the Bay of Bengal and soft power diplomacy which is vital for developing the diplomatic ties with like-minded countries.