‘US for lifting Rab sanctions’

Time Digital Report: US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Donald Lu yesterday told the government they will support the withdrawal of sanctions against Rapid Action Battalion, Prime Minister's Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman F Rahman said.

The US also asked Bangladesh to ensure timely payments to American companies conducting business here.

Rahman was briefing journalists after a meeting with Donald Lu at his Gulshan residence last night.

However, neither Lu nor the US embassy in Dhaka spoke publicly about the meeting.

Lu has been in the region since May 10, visiting India and Sri Lanka, and arrived in Dhaka yesterday morning.

Rahman claimed the US side told him that the White House is also for the withdrawal of sanctions, but they have a procedure that needs to be followed. Sanctions are within the jurisdiction of the US Department of Justice.

The US last year announced a visa policy for Bangladesh, saying those undermining democratic elections would be denied visas. Earlier in 2021, it imposed sanctions on Rab and some of its officials.

Rahman also said that US wants to rebuild trust in its relationship with Bangladesh.

"We both agreed that our relationship should be better than what it was prior to the elections. There might have been misunderstandings earlier."

Rahman said there were some reservations in the run-up to the elections, and even afterwards, but when US President Joe Biden wrote to the PM, it was understood that they have accepted the elections.

Biden wrote to the PM in February iterating their willingness to help Bangladesh achieve its economic goals.

Rahman said they did not talk about visa restrictions last night but "there are no visa restrictions now".

Concerning delayed payments to American companies, he quoted Lu as saying that the US understands there is considerable pressure on Bangladesh's central reserves.

"We said we are hopeful that our export and remittance will increase since we have devalued the taka recently. We pointed out that although payments are being delayed, we haven't halted them," he added.

Bangladesh also sought funding under the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC).

"They said Bangladesh needs to reform the labour sector as per the suggestions of the International Labour Organisation. We said we have amended the labour law and are continuing reforms. We hope to come to an understanding with ILO. Once done, we can get get DFC funding."

Bangladesh requested the US to put pressure on Myanmar for repatriation, said Rahman, adding that the US agreed to do so while also pointing out that since the situation in Myanmar is not safe, repatriation will take time.

The two also spoke about regional power connectivity between Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan, and the crisis in Gaza.

Dhaka's priority will be trade and economy, while Washington's will be security, especially advancing partnership under its Indo-Pacific Strategy, as Donald Lu holds meetings with the government high-ups today.

According to diplomatic sources and analysts, Washington is focused on strengthening its relations with the Indo-Pacific nations keeping China in mind, though it says it does not target any specific country.

Lu met with civil society members to discusse human rights, labour rights, environment, gender, and media freedom.

Today, he will hold a meeting with Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen and call on Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud and Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury.

"His trip will strengthen bilateral cooperation with each country and demonstrate US support for a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region," according to a statement issued by the US State Department ahead of Lu's visit to India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh.