Visiting Deputy Assistant to the United States President and Senior Director for South and Central Asia at the National Security Council Lisa Curtis yesterday laid emphasis on multi-party participation in the upcoming general election. In response, Foreign Minister Abu Hassan Mahmood Ali agreed with her and informed that the election will be free, fair and participatory, and observers from different countries including the US are welcome to observe the polls.

He also made the visitor known that the government is committed to a free, fair and participatory election.

During the meeting with the foreign minister, Lisa Curtis also assured that the persecuted Rohingyas would not be forgotten, said a foreign ministry press release yesterday.  

She also had a meeting with Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque on Saturday evening.

During the meetings, Rohingya issue featured prominently and the Trump adviser shared her experience of visiting Cox’s

Bazar and getting the victims’ account of atrocities committed in the Rakhine State.

She mentioned that the Rohingyas wanted to go back to their homes in Myanmar, if the conditions are safe.

Curtis assured the Rohingyas that “they won’t be forgotten” and deeply appreciated Bangladesh’s role in sheltering the persecuted Rohingyas and providing necessary support to them.

The foreign minister said that the relationship between Bangladesh and USA is getting stronger and expressed the government’s gratitude to the US for strong political and humanitarian support towards Bangladesh in addressing the crisis.

In this regard, he urged the US side to continue playing a strong role at the United Nations Security Council. He also emphasised the sustained pressure by the international community including the US on the Myanmar government to create a safe and secure condition in Northern Rakhine for the safe and sustainable repatriation of Rohingyas to their homes.

Curtis assured that the Rohingya issue is now a part of the US policy discussion and it will continue the pressure on Myanmar government for their safe and dignified return.

Focusing on President Trump’s national security strategy, she highlighted the Indo-Pacific strategy of the US administration and expressed US’s eagerness to further deepen its engagement with Bangladesh.

On the return of the killers of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujbur Rahman, Curtis informed that she would convey the message to the concerned high dignitaries in Washington.

The US president’s aide also called on the Adviser for Security Affairs to Prime Minister Maj Gen (rtd) Tarique Ahmed Siddique and discussed the prospect of strengthening bilateral cooperation in the areas of defence and security.  She also met Prime Minister’s International Affairs Adviser Dr Gowher Rizvi in the afternoon.  She left Dhaka yesterday evening.