No discussion held on visa policy with US Assistant Secretary Bitter: Acting foreign secy
Acting Foreign Secretary Rear Admiral (Retd) Md Khurshed Alam on Sunday said the US side did not raise anything related to the recently announced US visa policy.
"I can unequivocally tell you that they did not initiate any discussion about the visa policy," he told reporters after his meeting with US Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Rena Bitter.
He said the visit was part of regular engagement and she did not come for discussing any specific issue.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
They discussed issues of mutual interest regarding consular issues, said the acting foreign secretary.
Asked how the visa policy will be applied, he said it is up to the US side and the government does not show any interest to know it. "You (media) might have that enthusiasm."
The acting foreign secretary, however, raised the issue of delay in getting visas by Bangladeshi students and Bangladesh-origin people who work in international organisations.
The US side assured of considering it to further expedite the process, he said.
Regarding the Rohingya repatriation, Khurshed Alam said there is no disagreement over their dignified return.
But, he said, the international community needs to give attention to the problems like drug trafficking and other security concerns.
US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas was also present at the meeting.
The US senior official visited Islamabad and Karachi before her arrival in Dhaka on Saturday night.
She is scheduled to leave Dhaka early Monday.
