Clinton wants politicos to talk

Dhaka, May 5 (bdnews24.com) – US secretary of state Hillary Clinton has urged all political actors to settle difference through dialogue.

"I am really urging all political parties, not just the government, to do everything necessary to support democracy and find a plan to have free and fair election," she said at a joint press briefing at the Prime Minister's Office on Saturday.

Clinton arrived in Dhaka in the afternoon and had formal talks with foreign minister Dipu Moni at the PMO before the press conference.

"We discussed the recent killing of Aminul Islam (RMG activist) ... we discussed Ali (Illias Ali) and asked for proper investigations," she said.

Criticising general strikes, she said it sent a wrong signal to the international community on the climate for investment in the country.

"Five lives were lost (during the strikes) and it affects the poorer section of the people," she added.

She, however, said the US would continue to support democracy in Bangladesh and the freedom that every Bangladeshi was entitled to.

Security partnership

Dhaka and Washington would continue their cooperation against extremism to ensure that they cannot use 'Bangladesh as transit or use it as a training ground.'

Hillary commended zero-tolerance stance of Bangladesh on terrorism and said Bangladesh and the US had very fruitful talks in the security dialogue held in April.

Maritime boundary

The secretary of state said there was a scope for cooperation in protecting investments in the Bay of Bengal.

Bangladesh and Myanmar resolved their maritime boundary dispute at the ITLOS and got verdict in March this year.

Bangladesh now has clear demarcation and it can now explore the area.

US company ConocoPhilips is now exploring gas and oil in blocks 10 and 11 at the Bay and has sought another six blocks for exploration.

Grameen Bank

Clinton suggested appointing a respected managing director at the Grameen Bank in a transparent manner.

The bank had unleashed the opportunity for millions of women and "I want it to continue its good work also in future," she said.

Land bridge

"Bangladesh can connect dynamic Asia Pacific region with potential South Asia due to its geographical location," Clinton said.

"It is considered to be a potential transit country as Bangladesh has borders with both Myanmar and India."

Rohingya problem

The secretary of state said perhaps it was time to find a solution to Rohingya problem, as Myanmar had undertaken reforms programmes.

"The reform programmes will help not only Myanmar but also the people of Bangladesh," she said.

Thousands of Rohingyas have taken refuge in Bangladesh on being pushed by their own country.

Cooperation

Washington wants to further widen ties with Bangladesh and cooperate in a number of areas.

Food security, anti-terrorism, cooperation between militaries and climate change are some of the major where the two countries have cooperation, according to Clinton.

She announced that USAID would provide $30 million for the Bangladesh Climate Change Resilience Fund over the next four years.

Democratic Bangladesh

Washington wants to see Bangladesh as a prosperous and democratic country.

There must be a consensus among the political actors in order to achieve the level of development the people of Bangladesh deserved, Clinton said.

"We do not seek anything other than that."

Clinton said the US continued to urge taking hard decision necessary to establish rule of law and transparency.

She, however, said that though it was not easy, Bangladesh never gave up its efforts to achieve it.

About the relationship with New Delhi, she said Bangladesh and India were two important countries from the US.

"We see that two are the leaders regionally and globally."

Convergence and dissonance

Foreign Minister Dipu Moni in her speech said Bangladesh and the US partnership had space for both dissonance and mutual respect.

Moni said Bangladesh had demanded duty-free and quota-free market and extending of Generalised System of Preference (GSP) facilities.

"In addition, we raised the issue of Bangladesh's enrolment in the Millennium Challenge Account and repatriation of one of the self-confessed convicted killers of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, currently residing in the US," she said.