US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Donald Lu is coming to Dhaka on Tuesday for a two-day visit. During this visit, he will discuss various issues of priority of the two countries including business and investment, security, defense, climate change, civil rights at the government and private levels.
Donald Lu has been a very popular name in Bangladesh for various reasons since before the parliamentary elections on January 7. Therefore, his visit is again a heated political arena. Awami League says that this visit is important to take the relationship between the two countries to a new height. On the other hand, BNP is of the opinion that they have no interest in Donald Lu’s visit.
Lu has visited Bangladesh four times since becoming Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs. Before this, he had visited Bangladesh last July. At that time, he came to Dhaka accompanied by US Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy and Human Rights Azra Jeya.
However, Donald Lu's visit this time is more diplomatic than political, the US State Department said. During this visit, he will hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister's Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman F Rahman, Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Affairs Saber Hossain Chowdhury, Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen.
Donald Lu will also pay a courtesy call on Foreign Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud. He is also scheduled to hold discussions with civil society representatives.