Two senior officials from US President Donald Trump's administration are arriving in Dhaka today (April 16th) for a three-day visit. They are Nicole N. Chulick, Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, and Andrew Herrup, Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs.
According to sources at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nicole N. Chulick is scheduled to arrive in Dhaka early Wednesday morning. Andrew Herrup and Susan Stevenson, the US Acting Ambassador to Myanmar, will arrive later on separate flights.
Sources indicate that their visit will focus on discussions regarding ongoing reforms and support for democratic transition in Bangladesh, the situation in Myanmar and the Rohingya crisis, as well as various aspects of Dhaka-Washington relations.
This marks the first high-level delegation visit from the United States to Bangladesh since Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th US President on January 20th.
According to relevant sources, during her visit, Nicole Chulick will discuss the reform process, particularly US assistance in democratic transition, with high-level representatives of the interim government. She will also inquire about how the United States can further support the ongoing reforms in Bangladesh during discussions with the government. Additionally, she may hold meetings with leaders from the BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, and other political parties, as well as representatives from civil society.
Meanwhile, Andrew Herrup's agenda in Dhaka includes the situation in Myanmar. The continuous changes in Myanmar are reportedly seen by the United States as an obstacle to the implementation of its Indo-Pacific Strategy (IPS).
The report suggests that apart from some areas, the Myanmar government lacks control, and the country has become a hub for various illicit activities such as drug trafficking, illegal arms trade, kidnapping of foreign citizens, and human trafficking, including women and children.
Furthermore, the Myanmar military and rebel armed groups are allegedly involved in these activities, including the Rohingya situation. Criminals from various countries are also reportedly operating within Myanmar's borders. Therefore, Andrew Herrup's visit to Dhaka is expected to cover the entire situation in Myanmar.
