US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Donald Lu is visiting Bangladesh again. This diplomat's visit to Dhaka, which is well-versed with the internal affairs of the subcontinent, especially Bangladesh, deserves mention. Although his visit is not based on a political program, it is only a diplomatic visit.

Donald Lu is discussed in this region for various reasons. He was aware of the last election held in Bangladesh. He was discussed in all discussions about visa policy. Americans were worried about visa ban creating a situation to interfere with Bangladesh election politics. He has visited Bangladesh several times. All their visits, various comments have given food for discussion in the political arena of the country. The government was embarrassed, the anti-government party BNP was optimistic and the people were in uncertainty.

Last January, BNP and like-minded parties and alliances were excluded from the 'constitutional obligation' elections. Awami League is supposed to be in power for the fourth time in a row. America's previous relationship with the new government no longer exists. Although the relationship of mistrust between Bangladesh and America has not been sweet, it has been raised from the stage of widowed relationship to the level of some tolerance. As before, Awami League leaders-ministers-MPs and even the prime minister are not making harsh comments against America.

There were many discussions at home and abroad about the twelfth parliament. US Ambassador to Dhaka Peter Haas was in the discussion. His hyperactivity was discussed and criticized at that time. However, after the election, the US ambassador was present at the swearing-in ceremony of the cabinet. After that, he went to the ministries and tried to remove the distrust, emphasized on the development of relations. A change in the position of America before the election and America after the election can be observed. The opposition parties, including BNP, hoped that the US would not recognize the new government, or even stop cooperation, ban visas; But nothing happened. America did not send a 'congratulatory message' to the new government but assured cooperation.

Last February, US President Joe Biden in a letter to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina referred to the 'strong relationship between the people of the two countries as the foundation of the US-Bangladesh relationship' and supported Bangladesh in achieving its ambitious economic goals as well as establishing a partnership with Dhaka to fulfill the common dream of establishing a free and open Indo-Pacific region. He expressed his determination to work. In the letter, Joe Biden wrote, 'As we begin the next chapter in the US-Bangladesh partnership, I want to express our administration's commitment to working together on regional and global security, economic development, climate change and energy, global health, humanitarian assistance, especially Rohingya refugees, and many more. I am presenting the wish.'

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina responded to Biden's letter. It is visible that the ice in the relationship between the two countries started to melt. Bangladesh has been one of the focal points of the US State Department's regular press briefings. Discussions of visa restrictions, restrictions on labor policies also started to decrease. No one is talking about it now in the country as it has gone out of the discussion of the US State Department. Embarrassment within the government has begun to subside, BNP, which had become very optimistic about America before the elections, is realizing that it was not right for them to depend on the Americans.

BNP was so preoccupied with Peter Haas and his role before the elections that it commented in a public meeting that the ambassador had become an 'avatar'. Shahjahan Omar, the barrister who called Peter Haas an avatar, was the vice chairman of the BNP and a two-time minister of state in the Khaleda Zia government. During the movement, he was arrested in a case of sabotage and went to jail. After getting out of jail on bail, he left BNP and joined Awami League to participate in the elections, and won. Not only Shahjahan Omar, BNP General Secretary Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir along with top level leaders of BNP repeatedly visited Peter Haas, also held secret meetings several times. Some of it they have admitted, while some of the information about the meeting was initially admitted but later denied.

BNP was once dependent on America to overthrow the government. At one stage of this over-reliance they almost ignored the power of the people. At first they blamed India for normalizing Bangladesh-US relations after the elections. And now it has started to return to the path of politics. Now they are not showing interest in Donald Lu's visit to Bangladesh because of their optimism about America. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir's speech has proved it. He said, 'There is no time to worry about who came and who left.' Mirza Fakhrul is not only the main strength of their party, but Nazrul Islam Khan, a member of the BNP's standing committee, said, 'South and Central Asia Assistant Secretary of State for Affairs Donald Lure's arrival or absence does not change anything. Lu is a long way off. We are worried about the state of the country.' He thinks the behavior of the armed group of Chattogram Hill Tracts 'Kuki-China' is more important than Donald Lu's visit. He claimed, "The government has failed to control the activities of this armed group."

Donald Lew came to Dhaka via Colombo. His itinerary speaks volumes for their interest in the region. Foreign Minister on the visit Hasan Mahmud, Forest and Environment Minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury, Foreign Secretary Dr. Masud bin Momen. He is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister's Private Industry and Investment Advisor Salman F. Rahman. There is no schedule of meeting with BNP in the itinerary so far. That is, the visit is primarily diplomatic, according to the government, to improve relations.

The words 'opening the next chapter in the US-Bangladesh partnership' mentioned in Joe Biden's letter are being discussed in Donald Lu's current visit. The government is giving importance to it, especially in various statements and comments. As there is no meeting with political leaders on the agenda, it is becoming visible that Donald Lu is coming to Bangladesh to advance partnership activities.

A big difference is visible between Donald Lu's visit this time and his previous visits to Dhaka. Earlier when he came, BNP was the party to be optimistic; the government was in a state of embarrassment. Now the situation is different. The erstwhile optimists are now disappointed, and the erstwhile embarrassments are now in the group of optimists. Country-country relations, diplomacy and diplomats, that's what happens! What is not?