Senior US officials likely to visit Dhaka Dec 13

Tom Shannon, who has been nominated as United States Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs by the US President, and US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Nisha Desai Biswal are likely to arrive in the capital Dec 13 on a two-day trip to discuss the whole range of bilateral issues between Dhaka and Washington, diplomatic sources told The Independent yesterday. Shannon has been serving as the Counsellor of the State Department since Dec 24, 2013.  “Both the officials will come to Dhaka on a 24-hour visit and a packed schedule awaits them,” said a source. “We don't have any news to share about upcoming visits but will be in touch if/when we have something to announce”, Nancy VanHorn, spokesperson of the US Embassy in Dhaka, told The Independent in an email communication while responding to a query in this regard. About the topics of discussions between the US officials and the Bangladesh side, the sources said that both sides will review the overall relations between the two countries.
Shedding lights on the importance of the visit, a source said that Shannon is undertaking the visit before officially assuming the responsibilities of the Undersecretary of State while Nisha Biswal is coming here, cutting her holiday short. The US side is likely to emphasise issues regarding security, governance, human rights, institutions, consistency of policies and enabling environment for US investments in Bangladesh, they added.
The US officials are likely to meet, among others, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali. They are also interested to attend a programme organised by the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS). Shannon will also hold talks with Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque, sources said.

Senior US officials likely to visit Dhaka Dec 13

Tom Shannon, who has been nominated as United States Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs by the US President, and US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Nisha Desai Biswal are likely to arrive in the capital Dec 13 on a two-day trip to discuss the whole range of bilateral issues between Dhaka and Washington, diplomatic sources told The Independent yesterday. Shannon has been serving as the Counsellor of the State Department since Dec 24, 2013. Both the officials will come to Dhaka on a 24-hour visit and a packed schedule awaits them, said a source. We dont have any news to share about upcoming visits but will be in touch if/when we have something to announce, Nancy VanHorn, spokesperson of the US Embassy in Dhaka, told The Independent in an email communication while responding to a query in this regard. About the topics of discussions between the US officials and the Bangladesh side, the sources said that both sides will review the overall relations between the two countries. Shedding lights on the importance of the visit, a source said that Shannon is undertaking the visit before officially assuming the responsibilities of the Undersecretary of State while Nisha Biswal is coming here, cutting her holiday short. The US side is likely to emphasise issues regarding security, governance, human rights, institutions, consistency of policies and enabling environment for US investments in Bangladesh, they added. The US officials are likely to meet, among others, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali. They are also interested to attend a programme organised by the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS). Shannon will also hold talks with Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque, sources said.