US Pacific Fleet Commander Admiral Stephen T Koehler met Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Tuesday, with the two sides discussing humanitarian cooperation, disaster management, naval collaboration and strengthening Bangladesh-US defence ties.
The courtesy meeting was held at the Cabinet Division of the Bangladesh Secretariat at around 1:30pm.
During the meeting, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman recalled the US-led “Operation Sea Angels”, launched following the devastating cyclone that hit Bangladesh in 1991, highlighting Washington’s humanitarian support during the disaster.
Admiral Koehler highlighted Bangladesh’s participation in various multinational naval exercises and said the upcoming Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise would be held in Bangladesh in November.
He also mentioned Bangladesh’s participation in the “Sea Vision Exercise” held in Singapore and expressed hope that Dhaka would take part regularly in the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise and other training programmes in the future.
The two sides also discussed the progress of the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) and mutual understanding between Bangladesh and the United States on defence-related information sharing.
During the meeting, Bangladesh reiterated that it attaches great importance to its relations with the United States and expressed interest in expanding bilateral cooperation through broader and more contemporary areas of partnership.
Admiral Koehler said Bangladesh and the United States have significant opportunities to work together and expressed optimism that bilateral relations would continue to strengthen in the coming days.
The US commander praised Bangladesh’s contribution to United Nations peacekeeping operations, particularly its role in missions in various African countries.
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman said Bangladesh has always maintained a position in favour of global peace.
The meeting was attended by Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir, Prime Minister’s Defence Adviser Brigadier General (retd) AKM Shamsul Islam, US Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent T Christensen, Bangladesh Ambassador to the United States Tariq Mohammad Ariful Islam, Director General of the North America Wing of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and senior officials from both countries.
