Bangladesh, US to hold second defence dialogue

The US and Bangladesh will for the second time hold a three-day defence dialogue this week, the US embassy here said Monday.

According to an embassy statement, the second bilateral defence dialogue and military planning talks will start here Tuesday at the invitation of the Bangladesh government, reports Xinhua.

The positive and substantial exchanges of the dialogue reflect the breadth, depth, and strength of the growing bilateral defence relationship, and the shared commitment to peace and prosperity in the region, the statement said.

The purpose of the US-Bangladesh defence dialogue is to broaden and strengthen bilateral cooperation on a wide range of military issues, and enhance partnerships in peacekeeping, joint military exercises and exchanges, counter-terrorism, and security cooperation, it added.

The first ever security talks between the two countries were held here in April last year focusing on security challenges faced by the two countries.

Although Bangladesh preferred to remain silent after the first ever security talks, the US embassy in Dhaka had said: "This inaugural dialogue on security issues highlights the robust engagement between the US and Bangladesh as well as our growing defence relationship."