Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN) – US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Robert O Blake will arrive in Bangladesh on March 19 on a five-day visit to hold talks with government, opposition politicians and civil society members.
Mr. Blake arrives in Dhaka on the second leg of his three-nation tour of China, Bangladesh and Kazakhstan, The Daily Star, a local newspaper, reported quoting US diplomatic sources in Dhaka.
In Bangladesh, the assistant secretary will hold bilateral consultations with the government, and meet civil society leaders and the opposition. He will also attend the Regional Security Initiative (RSI) Conference in Dhaka.
Robert Blake’s visit to Bangladesh is crucial in the context of removal of Professor Muhammad Yunus from the post of managing director of Grameen Bank and the US concern about it, the newspaper reported quoting sources.
The United States said it was “troubled” by Yunus’ removal and called on the Bangladesh government and Grameen Bank to reach an honourable compromise on this issue.
The Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs deals with US foreign policy and US relations with the countries of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
BBN/SSR/AD-17Mar11-2:07 am (BST)
