Bangladesh, US to hold second defence dialogue

The United States and Bangladesh will hold a three-day defence dialogue for the second time here this week, said an embassy statement Monday. According to the U.S. embassy statement, the Second Bilateral Defence Dialogue and Military Planning Talks will start on Tuesday in Dhaka at the invitation of the Bangladeshi government. The positive and substantial exchanges of the dialogue reflect the breadth, depth, and strength of the growing bilateral defense relationship, as well as our shared commitment to peace and prosperity in the region, it said. The purpose of the U.S.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, counterterrorism, and security cooperation, it added. The first-ever security talks between the two countries were held in Dhaka in April last year focusing on security challenges facing the two countries and the region at large. Although Bangladesh side preferred to remain mum after the firs- ever security talks but the U.S. embassy in Dhaka said, " This inaugural Dialogue on Security Issues highlights the robust engagement between the United States and Bangladesh as well as our growing defense relationship."