Khalilur Calls For Dialogue In Talks With US

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Kapur today met with Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman at the foreign ministry.

Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman has called for resolving ongoing Gulf conflicts through dialogue and diplomatic engagement to minimize loss of life and prevent wider regional instability during talks with visiting US Assistant Secretary Paul Kapur.

Kapur, the US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, met the foreign minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka as part of his two-day visit to Bangladesh.

During the meeting, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening Bangladesh–United States bilateral relations, particularly in economic engagement, based on mutual respect and shared interests, according to an official statement.

Dr. Rahman highlighted the government’s “Bangladesh First” policy under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, emphasizing Dhaka’s strategy of maintaining balanced relations with regional and global partners to advance national interests and shared prosperity.

Kapur congratulated the new government following what he described as a peaceful, free and festive general election in Bangladesh. He also referred to a congratulatory letter sent by US President Donald Trump to the prime minister, expressing confidence that bilateral ties would continue to grow.

The US assistant secretary underscored the importance of implementing the Reciprocal Trade Agreement to promote greater bilateral trade and investment. In response, the foreign minister reiterated the government’s commitment to policy continuity, particularly in the economic sector.

The recent escalation in the Middle East featured prominently in the discussions. Dr. Rahman stressed the need for restraint by all parties and urged an early diplomatic solution to prevent further casualties and regional destabilization.

The Rohingya issue was also reviewed. The foreign minister thanked the United States for its continued humanitarian support to displaced Rohingyas and sought sustained international efforts toward a durable solution to the crisis.

Both sides expressed optimism that regular high-level engagements and institutional dialogues would further deepen Bangladesh–US relations in the coming years.

Prior to his meeting with the foreign minister, Kapur held a brief discussion with State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam.