Biden wants to build good relations with Bangladesh: Momen

Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen said yesterday that US President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina interacted at the G20 Summit in a very cordial and warm atmosphere, reflecting the deep bilateral relations between the countries.

"He [Biden] has all the intention to build a good relationship with Bangladesh," he said yesterday while briefing reporters over the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's engagements in New Delhi.

The Bangladesh premier arrived in New Delhi on Friday to attend the G20 Leaders' Summit at the invitation of her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi.

Replying to a question, Momen said, "It [talks among Biden, Sheikh Hasina, Sheikh Rehana and Saima Wazed in two separate occasions including during a dinner] is evident that we have a deep and solid relationship with Washington and we will make it stronger in future."

He said the US is very keen to further consolidate the relationship with Bangladesh, for which they are sending their people and holding talks. "They [the American government] are not exerting any pressure on us; rather the media is doing so," he said.

The foreign minister said Joe Biden, Sheikh Hasina, her daughter Saima Wazed had a 15-minute talk at Bharat Mandapam International Exhibition Centre in Pragati Maidan in the Indian capital on the sidelines of the G20 Summit.

"When our prime minister was talking to President Biden, he was seen very happy and fully enthusiastic and discussion happened in a very cordial and warm atmosphere. It [the discussion] was around 15 minutes or so," he said.

He said when the Bangladesh premier and her daughter Saima Wazed were talking to Joe Biden, PM's Ambassador-at-Large Mohammad Ziauddin took out his cellphone to take a picture of that moment.

"President Biden took his own cell phone and took a selfie," he added.

Source: UNB, New Delhi