Washington looks forward to deepening its relationship and cooperation with Bangladesh on a number of key issues “regardless of political parties or candidates or anything like that”, a state department spokesperson said yesterday.

Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen said he did not believe the withdrawal of additional police escort for envoys of the US, UK and several other countries would affect the bilateral ties between Bangladesh and those countries.

Dhaka and Kathmandu have reviewed the progress in their bilateral and regional cooperation on power sector at the 5th joint steering committee (JSC) meeting held at Payra power plant office in Patuakhali.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today called for peaceful settlement of the Palestinian crisis on the basis of international law and UN resolutions, and for the achievement of an end to the Israeli occupation.

Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen today said the government will offer the services of the Ansar -- a paramilitary auxiliary force -- to the foreign missions in Dhaka as alternatives after the withdrawal of “additional escort services” for four diplomats came into effect.

The United States said it was looking forward to deepening its relationship and cooperation with Bangladesh on a number of key issues, “regardless of political party or candidates”.

The US has said the safety and security of their diplomatic personnel and facilities are of utmost importance

The government has withdrawn additional security given to the ambassadors and high commissioners of India, China, Australia, Saudi Arabia and the US and UK, saying that the security situation in the country  is “very satisfactory” and that there is a shortage of police personnel.

Australia said it wants an Indo-Pacific region where “no country dominates or is dominated” by others.

The US is not concerned about participation of any particular party in Bangladesh’s next elections but it wants the polls to be fair and held in a congenial environment, a senior visiting State Department official said.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said Bangladesh and Japan have successfully elevated the bilateral relations to a "Strategic Partnership" calling it the biggest achievement of her recent official visit to Japan.

Bangladesh and Nepal are beginning a two-day meeting to discuss how to jointly take India on board for using Indian transmission lines to enable power trade between Nepal and Bangladesh

Chief of Bangladesh Army General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed left Dhaka today for the United States on an official visit at the invitation of the US Army.

Bangladesh and Vietnam have agreed to explore possibilities of concluding a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) in order to add further substance to the steadily increasing bilateral trade and economic relations between the two regional countries, particularly in the context of the LDC graduation of Bangladesh

The US, Japan and Australia are keen on engaging more with Bangladesh and the other Indian Ocean countries for investment and diplomatic purposes as the region holds huge economic potential but also faces the challenges of climate change and security.

Foreign minister Dr AK Abdul Momen today said Bangladesh's position as a stakeholder in the international arena has been made firmer under the changing geopolitical and geo-economic situation by hosting the Indian Ocean Conference (IOC).

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam today said Bangladesh wants to walk together with the countries in the region by resolving the issues through discussion and joint efforts..He also laid emphasis on sharing good practices among partner countries as Bangladesh seeks cooper

US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman has said they are seeking to provide $6 million, working with the US Congress, for regional maritime security initiatives - partnering with Bangladesh, India, Maldives, and Sri Lanka.

Mauritius President Prithvirajsing Roopun has said that his country can be a gateway for Bangladeshi trade and business to Africa

Foreign policy analysts have called for focusing on economic cooperation and de-escalation of security threats in the Indian Ocean region which is increasingly becoming an area of strategic contestation among the great powers.