Bangladesh has good relations with the US

Staff Reporter :
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has said that Bangladesh has a good relation with the USA since both countries share common values of human rights and democracy.
He further said that the relationship with America is not determined by a single issue (sanction on RAB) rather Bangladesh has multiple engagements with them.
In reply to a question of the journalists, Dr Momen made the remarks while inaugurating the three-day “Peace Run Bangladesh” by lighting the ‘peace torch’ at the Suhrawardy Udyan premises in the capital on Friday.
The Foreign Minister was asked whether the ‘sanction on RAB’ issue will come to the discussion table when US Assistant Secretary of
 State for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu will be visiting Bangladesh next week to discuss the relationship between Bangladesh and the United States.
“A relation with a country is not determined by a single issue. A relationship grows with multiple engagements. The USA is the biggest buyer of our products, has huge investments here. We don’t have to worry about just one issue,” Dr Momen observed.
“We have a very good relationship with the USA. We have multiple engagements with them. When he (Donald Lu) will come, we will have talks on various issues. We hope our relation will be strengthened while talking with him (Donald),” he said.
“We will have talks on various issues. It is open,” he continued.
Quoting common values with the USA, he said, “We share common values with America. They want democratic system. We also want it. America wants to uphold human rights. Similarly thirty lakh of our people laid down their lives for human rights, justice and democracy.”
Referring to the recent killing of a Bangladeshi youth in the USA, Dr Momen said that Bangladesh does not endorse hatred against anyone in the world.
“One of our Bangladeshi youths was killed in the USA. So far I have come to know that he was the victim of a hate crime. We don’t want to see hate crime anywhere.”
“We want peace not only among nations, but also among people to people. People are being victims of racism around the globe. We want the abolition of racism and religious fights,” he said.
 “If you see countries Iran, Iraq, Libya, Yemen and Syria, you will see hatred. We don’t have it in our country. We feel proud of this. It has been possible due to the cardinal principle of Bangabandhu – Friendship to all, malice to none,” he said.
He further said that all problems could be resolved through dialogues, but the frame of mind set is important for talks.
About the ‘Peace Run Bangladesh’ event, he said, “All human beings are the creation of one Creator. If we believe it, many problems can be resolved. We want world peace. We want regional peace and stability.”
Referring to the issues with neighbouring countries, he said, “Bangladesh has resolved all its issues with its neighbouring countries through dialogues. Say it water agreement, border agreement and maritime boundary. We have resolved issues with big neighbouring country like India. No bullet was fired.”