To enhance relations with Bangladesh, US Deputy Assistant Secretary Afreen Akhter of the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs is expected to visit Dhaka on Saturday.

After the national election on January 7, this will be the first visit by a US official.

According to a diplomatic source, the Rohingya problem may be discussed in addition to bilateral matters and other topics of shared interest, such as economic development and growth.

Before the national election, Afreen traveled to Bangladesh.

Senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are probably going to meet with her.

At a press conference on February 14, she stated, "We have a tremendous amount of work ongoing developing free media in Bangladesh, working with civil society, working with labor organizers across the spectrum to build up these institutions of democracy that will enable Bangladesh to become more democratic over the longer term."

On October 16–17 of last year, Afreen traveled to Dhaka and Cox's Bazar, where she met with dignitaries, members of civil society, Rohingya refugees, and representatives of aid agencies.

She spoke with key officials from the Bangladeshi government, including Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen, during her "productive" visit.

She spoke with representatives from humanitarian groups, the Bangladeshi government, and Rohingya refugees during a day at Cox's Bazar.

The delegation also concentrated on gaining knowledge about the conditions in the camps and the lives of the refugees.

Donald Lu, the US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, has stated that he believes there are more serious security issues for Bangladesh and beyond and that the situation in Myanmar does not appear to be improving.

It doesn't seem like things are improving there. What concerns me is that, in the days ahead, the refugee situation and the security issues it is causing for Bangladesh and maybe India as well could worsen," the man stated.

End//voice7news.tv