Dhaka capable of ensuring own security

Bangladesh to tell Kerry during his visit today

While willing to accept need-based assistance from the United States, Dhaka will convey to Washington during US Secretary of State John Kerry’s daytrip today that Bangladesh is capable of taking care of itself by ensuring security for the country and its people. “We are capable of taking care of ourselves. We can ensure security of our country and its people,” a top government official told The Independent when asked what message Bangladesh will convey on the heels of US’s persistent offer to help in security matters. “No country in the world can be provided security by anybody else,” he added.
The official, however, said, “We will tell the US side that we will let you know what assistance we will need. The US assistance will be absolutely need-based.” Bangladesh will give priority to trade and development during the official talks between Kerry and his Bangladeshi counterpart Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali, while US is all but certain to highlight the security issue with particular references to militancy, terrorism and violent extremism, said government officials concerned.
Alongside security, the US Secretary of State will focus on democracy, human rights and development, according to the US Department of State. The officials of the Bangladesh government said that a lot has been done after the tragic terrorist attack on a Gulshan restaurant and people are feeling a lot more secure today. “I am sure the US understands that. And, the visit of Kerry is the result of Bangladesh’s efforts to fight militancy. But, Washington always prefers arresting the militants alive,” said a senior Foreign Ministry official.
“The security is definitely going to be a dominant issue during Kerry’s visit,” Bangladesh Ambassador to Washington Mohammad Ziauddin, who flew from US for this visit on Saturday night, told The Independent yesterday.
Describing the visit as hugely significant, he said, “US Secretary of State only travels to a country where it has interest and Washington always wants to engage with countries on counterterrorism and violent extremism.”
The officials also said that Dhaka will raise the issue of restoration of GSP privilege and ask the US to grant Bangladeshi products’ duty-free and quota-free access to its markets.
According to the programme schedule made available to The Independent, the US Secretary of State is going to have a hectic time during his visit whose duration is about nine and a half hours.
A special flight carrying Kerry and his delegation including Assistant Secretary of State Nisha Desai Biswal is scheduled to land at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at about 9:00am. Foreign Minister Ali will receive his US counterpart at the airport.
From the airport he will be taken to Radisson Water Garden Hotel, from where he will go to visit Bangabandhu Memorial Museum in Dhanmondi at 11:30am.
Later, Kerry, who is being treated as a VVIP guest, will travel to the Prime Minister’s Office to call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
The officials said that it is not sure if there will be any one-to-one meeting between the Prime Minister and the US Secretary of State.
“I think there should be one. But, I don’t know if there was any request from the US side in this regard,” said a senior official.
From the Prime Minister’s Office, Kerry will head to the state guest house Padma for official talks with Foreign Minister Ali at 1:00pm.
Foreign Minister Ali will lead a 10-member Bangladeshi delegation including representatives from Ministries of Home and Commerce while a 10-member US side will be headed by Kerry. The official talks will be followed by a working lunch at the same venue. Kerry will meet US Embassy staff before he goes to EMK Centre in Dhanmondi at 4:00pm where he will interact with youth leaders and representatives of civil society.
The US Secretary of State is scheduled to hold separate meetings with BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and Leader of the Opposition Raushan Ershad before departing for New Delhi at about 6:30pm.
The US secretary will also visit a garment factory at Mirpur in the capital .

Dhaka capable of ensuring own security

Bangladesh to tell Kerry during his visit today

While willing to accept need-based assistance from the United States, Dhaka will convey to Washington during US Secretary of State John Kerrys daytrip today that Bangladesh is capable of taking care of itself by ensuring security for the country and its people. We are capable of taking care of ourselves. We can ensure security of our country and its people, a top government official told The Independent when asked what message Bangladesh will convey on the heels of USs persistent offer to help in security matters. No country in the world can be provided security by anybody else, he added. The official, however, said, We will tell the US side that we will let you know what assistance we will need. The US assistance will be absolutely need-based. Bangladesh will give priority to trade and development during the official talks between Kerry and his Bangladeshi counterpart Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali, while US is all but certain to highlight the security issue with particular references to militancy, terrorism and violent extremism, said government officials concerned. Alongside security, the US Secretary of State will focus on democracy, human rights and development, according to the US Department of State. The officials of the Bangladesh government said that a lot has been done after the tragic terrorist attack on a Gulshan restaurant and people are feeling a lot more secure today. I am sure the US understands that. And, the visit of Kerry is the result of Bangladeshs efforts to fight militancy. But, Washington always prefers arresting the militants alive, said a senior Foreign Ministry official. The security is definitely going to be a dominant issue during Kerrys visit, Bangladesh Ambassador to Washington Mohammad Ziauddin, who flew from US for this visit on Saturday night, told The Independent yesterday. Describing the visit as hugely significant, he said, US Secretary of State only travels to a country where it has interest and Washington always wants to engage with countries on counterterrorism and violent extremism. The officials also said that Dhaka will raise the issue of restoration of GSP privilege and ask the US to grant Bangladeshi products duty-free and quota-free access to its markets. According to the programme schedule made available to The Independent, the US Secretary of State is going to have a hectic time during his visit whose duration is about nine and a half hours. A special flight carrying Kerry and his delegation including Assistant Secretary of State Nisha Desai Biswal is scheduled to land at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at about 9:00am. Foreign Minister Ali will receive his US counterpart at the airport. From the airport he will be taken to Radisson Water Garden Hotel, from where he will go to visit Bangabandhu Memorial Museum in Dhanmondi at 11:30am. Later, Kerry, who is being treated as a VVIP guest, will travel to the Prime Ministers Office to call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The officials said that it is not sure if there will be any one-to-one meeting between the Prime Minister and the US Secretary of State. I think there should be one. But, I dont know if there was any request from the US side in this regard, said a senior official. From the Prime Ministers Office, Kerry will head to the state guest house Padma for official talks with Foreign Minister Ali at 1:00pm. Foreign Minister Ali will lead a 10-member Bangladeshi delegation including representatives from Ministries of Home and Commerce while a 10-member US side will be headed by Kerry. The official talks will be followed by a working lunch at the same venue. Kerry will meet US Embassy staff before he goes to EMK Centre in Dhanmondi at 4:00pm where he will interact with youth leaders and representatives of civil society. The US Secretary of State is scheduled to hold separate meetings with BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and Leader of the Opposition Raushan Ershad before departing for New Delhi at about 6:30pm. The US secretary will also visit a garment factory at Mirpur in the capital .