Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN) - The United States stands ready to assist as Bangladesh strengthens its democracy, prosperity and stability, U.S. Ambassador to Bangladesh James F. Moriarty said on Tuesday.
Addressing the closing ceremony of the Engineering Capabilities exercise or ENCAP and the Medical Civil Action Program or MEDCAP in the country's northern Kurigram district the ambassador said over the last 37 years, personnel from the U.S. military, USAID and the State Department have worked hand-in-hand with their Bangladeshi counterparts on a wide range of important issues.
Over the last two weeks, U.S. military engineers and the Bangladesh Army jointly built schools for more than 500 children at the Char Shakhahti School and the Char Radha Ballab School in Chilmari upazilla (sub-district) under the northern district.
Medical personnel from the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and the Bangladesh Army Medical Directorate provided free basic medical and dental care to Bangladeshis living in the Rangpur District.
The ambassador also said these exercises continue the tradition of close cooperation between the U.S. and Bangladeshi militaries.
Working together, each day they provided medical treatment to more than 1,000 people, which improved their lives, he said. Moriarty added that these exercises provide a wonderful forum for Americans to share information and ideas with the Bangladeshi military on engineering and medical issues.
BBN/SS/SI/AD-12August09-2:34 am (BST)