Momen happy over meeting with Donald Lu

Staff Reporter :
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Tuesday said that he had a very fruitful discussion with the United States Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, Donald Lu.
However, before concluding his visit, Lu conveyed a message to the government of Bangladesh that the US wanted the next parliamentary election to be free, fair, impartial and participatory. He also laid emphasis on the rights for all political parties to do politics.
“We are happy over the discussion with Donald Lu. President Joe Biden wanted our bilateral relations strengthened in the next 50 years. We also want it,” Dr Momen told the journalists in the Foreign Ministry.
“Donald Lu visited us for cementing the bilateral relations. But we have some weaknesses. He (Lu) has also admitted that America also has some weaknesses. That’s why we are on the same level. We had a very positive dialogue,” he said. About the sanctions on Rapid Action Battalion, he said, “There is a sanction on RAB for their activities. But RAB is now very matured. Their credibility has increased now.”
In reply to a query why Donald Lu did not sit with the leaders of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), the Foreign Minister said, “Ask BNP. Why do you ask me?”
Before wrapping up his two-day visit to Bangladesh, Donald Lu had a series of meetings with top level ministers, labour rights leaders and civil society members.
After the meeting with Foreign Minister Dr Momen and Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen, Lu said : “We had a very honest and open discussion.”
About the next election in Bangladesh, he said, “Everyone I talked to pointed to the prime minister’s commitment to free and fair elections without violence or intimidation. And so that’s what we would like as well. I hope there will be that same commitment on the part of the opposition.”
About democracy and human rights, he said, “We have expressed our commitment to democracy and human rights. We will speak when we see problems and when we can offer suggestions.”
“We will stand up for freedom of speech, freedom of expression. And we look forward to working very closely with our partners here in Bangladesh,” he continued.
“As Americans, we will condemn violence where we see it – if it’s on the part of opposition or the part of government and security forces. At the same time, we are going to focus on whether there’s intimidation during these elections, and if either side attempts to intimidate the voters or the leaders, we will say so publicly,” he said.
He also said that Bangladesh will have a good election in the upcoming days.
Meanwhile, in a meeting in Dhaka on Monday Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader said, “As many countries, including the USA, are concerned about our elections, the next election will be credible and fair.”
Lu, who arrived in Dhaka on Saturday evening, directly went to the Foreign Minister’s residence accompanied by US Ambassador to Bangladesh, Peter Haas, to hold a meeting over dinner.
Sources said that both sides discussed the key issues of bilateral relations during the one-hour stay at the FM’s residence to strengthen bilateral relationship and expand economic engagement.