Randall G Schriver
With an aim to discuss about two military deals and increase cooperation in other sectors, US Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Randall G Schriver will coming to Dhaka in next week.
The Pentagon high official will hold talks with Prime Minister's Security Adviser Tarique Ahmed Siddique, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Mohammad Shahriar Alam, senior officials of Armed Forces Division, reports Bangla Tribune.
With a view to enhancing military cooperation with Banglad-esh, US is keen to ink the Acquisition and Cross Service Agreement (ACSA) and General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA).
The country has already given a proposal in this regard. Among the two agreements, US cannot sell arms of high technologies to any country without GSOMIA. About the issue, Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque held a meeting with US Under Secretary of State David Hale in June this year.
After the meeting, it was said in a joint statement that US requested Bangladesh to continue talks for preserving confidential military data. Bangladesh also expressed interest to continue the discussion. A senior government official said, "Both countries are interested to work in this regard and a suitable platform is need for both sides, where faith can be kept."
Bangladesh has already announced the Forces Goal- 2030 and US can become a supplying country for implementing it, he added. The issue of military cooperation has been discussed in different levels including the foreign secretary. Shahidul Haque held a meeting with Randall in Washington in June.
Besides, Air Chief Marshal Masihuzzaman Serniabat is going to the USA next week.According to sources, Bangladesh is keen to purchase helicopters of high technologies from the US.
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