Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrives in the capital Dhaka Saturday afternoon on a two-day official visit to Bangladesh to hold talks on a wide range of bilateral matters as well as regional and international issues.
Foreign Minister Dipu Moni will receive Secretary Clinton at Shahjalal International Airport in the capital Dhaka at 4:10 pm, officials said.
During her less-than-24-hour stay, Hillary would hold talks with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Foreign Minister Dipu Moni and Opposition Leader Khaleda Zia.
The US secretary of state will lead a 38-member delegation, including 14 media personalities.
As per the program schedule, Hillary will first join the bilateral talks with her Bangladesh counterpart Dipu Moni at 6:00pm at the Prime Minister's Office in Dhaka.
Dhaka is expected to request for duty- and quota-free access of readymade garments, Bangladesh's inclusion in the Millennium Challenge Account, development assistance and economic cooperation, and reiterate the long-standing demand for the deportation of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's condemned killer Rashed Chowdhury from the USA.
The US side will raise the issues of political stalemate, human rights situation, governance and killing of labour leader Aminul Islam at the talks. Besides, it will push for inking the Trade and Investment Cooperation Framework Agreement (TICFA), engagement and cooperation between the two militaries, strategic collaboration to tackle militancy in South Asia and elsewhere, regional counterterrorism, energy cooperation and security in the Bay of Bengal.
The two countries are expected to strike a joint document styled “Declaration of Bangladesh-US Partnership Cooperation”, which will work as a platform to discuss all bilateral issues and cooperation.
After the meeting, Hillary and Dipu Moni will address a joint press briefing at 7:00pm on the outcome of the talks.
The US secretary will then call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for half-an-hour at her office which will be followed by about an hour's meet with Leader of the Opposition Khaleda Zia at her Gulshan office in the capital Dhaka.
Bangladesh foreign minister will host a dinner in honour of the US secretary.
Hillary is expected to meet the representatives of the civil society and Professor Muhammad Yunus on Sunday.
She will leave for New Delhi Sunday around noon.
BBN/SSR/AD-05May12-10:47 am (BST)
