US committed to continued ties with Bangladesh to improve labour rights: Donald Lu

The United States is “committed” to continued cooperation with Bangladesh in its efforts to improve labour rights, visiting US Assistant Secretary Donald Lu said on Sunday.

At a meeting with Bangladeshi labour leaders, Lu listened to their experiences and concerns.

Earlier in the morning, he had a breakfast meeting with Prime Minister’s Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman F Rahman.

The US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs had a meeting over dinner with Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen at his residence on Saturday night.

Key issues of bilateral relations were discussed during Lu’s over one-hour stay at the foreign minister’s official residence, a diplomatic source told UNB.

Lu, who arrived in Dhaka on Saturday evening, directly went to the foreign minister’s residence accompanied by US Ambassador to Bangladesh, Peter Haas.

He is now at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as part of his second day’s engagement with Bangladesh officials.

The US senior official is visiting Bangladesh to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral relationship, expand economic engagement, and go over the labour and human rights situation.

A range of priorities, including energy, trade, security cooperation, religious freedom, labour, and human rights, Indo-Pacific strategy and withdrawal of sanctions on RAB are likely to be discussed today between the two sides.