Two senior US officials scheduled to visit Dhaka for discussions on reforms and the Myanmar issue

US State Department Officials to Visit Bangladesh for Talks on Reforms and Regional Security

High-Level Delegations Scheduled for Mid-April

Two senior officials from the US Department of State are set to visit Bangladesh in mid-April, leading separate delegations. Their visit aims to strengthen diplomatic engagement and facilitate discussions on key bilateral and regional issues, including governance reforms, Bangladesh’s democratic transition, the Rohingya crisis, and the evolving situation in Myanmar.

Key US Officials and Visit Schedule

According to diplomatic sources in Dhaka and Washington, Nicole Chulick, Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs (SCA), will arrive on 15 April for a four-day official visit. Following her, Andrew R. Herrup, Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, is expected to reach Dhaka on 16 April. He will be accompanied by Susan Stevenson, the US Chargé d’Affaires to Myanmar. This will be the first high-level US visit to Bangladesh since President Donald Trump assumed office on 20 January.

Focus on Democratic Transition and Political Dialogue

During her stay, Nicole Chulick is expected to meet with senior officials of the interim government to discuss the progress of ongoing reform initiatives and explore avenues for US support in Bangladesh’s democratic transition. Her engagements are likely to include meetings with leaders from major political parties such as the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami, as well as key representatives from civil society.

Myanmar Crisis and Regional Concerns

Andrew Herrup’s visit will primarily address the Rohingya crisis and the complex developments unfolding in Myanmar. A senior official from Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that the instability in Myanmar is emerging as a significant impediment to the implementation of the US Indo-Pacific Strategy (IPS). The Myanmar military junta reportedly lacks effective control over much of the country, which has become a hub for drug and arms trafficking, kidnapping, and human trafficking, especially involving women and children. Herrup’s visit will include comprehensive discussions on these pressing regional security concerns.