DHAKA, April 3, 2022 (BSS) - Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen will hold 
bilateral meeting with his US counterpart Secretary of State Antony J. 
Blinken in Washington on Monday, the day of the 50th anniversary of 
establishing the diplomatic relations between the two countries. 

"(During the talk) we will discuss how we (Bangladesh-US) would further 
enhance our bilateral relations in the next 50 years," Dr Momen told media 
before leaving here for Washington DC last evening.

The half century of bilateral ties with Washinton after Bangladesh emerged as 
an independent nation amid a critical US stake leads it towards a revitalized 
relation in a different geo-political reality as the two countries chalked 
out series of engagement this year.
 
Dr Momen is going to meet his US counterpart first time since Washington 
imposed sanctions on Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and some its current and 
former officials alleging violation of human rights on 10th December last. 
 
Along with wide range of bilateral issues, the foreign minister said he would 
urge the US to reconsider the sanction. "We'll raise it (sanction issue)," he 
said. 

He hoped that there should be a positive response from the US side regarding 
the sanction as the RAB is efficient, effective in general free from 
corruption. 

The foreign minister said democracy is prevailing in Bangladesh while the 
country has made tremors economic prosperity on last more than a decade.
 
"But our success stories were not echoed properly in the outer world 
sometimes, we will tell our success stories in the meeting," he said.
 
Dr Momen said he would also raise the issue of handing over Rashed Chowdhury, 
a convicted killer of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman 
who is now in the US, to Bangladesh for ensuring rule of law and justice. 

Bangladesh is a peace-loving nation and for that Dhaka is less interested in 
defence procurement from the US, he said. 

The foreign minister said Dhaka is examining the draft on the General 
Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA), handed over by the US 
during the last partnership dialogue. 

Washington wanted Dhaka to sign two defence agreements-- General Security of 
Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) and the Acquisition Cross Servicing 
Agreement (ACSA)-- which is the gateway to being able to do more on the 
security front between the two countries. 
 
"Bangladesh wants to engage with USA in economic cooperation, food security, 
blue economy, renewable energy and technology transfer which are related to 
welfare of the people," he said, adding that Dhaka is willing to diversify 
trade with Washington while Bangladesh would invite US investments in special 
economic zones and hi-tech parks in the country.

The foreign minister said he will also discuss regarding US support in 
commencing early repatriation of displaced Rohingyas from Bangladesh to 
Myanmar.