US Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights Uzra Zeya has urged partners' assistance worldwide for over 1.1 million Rohingyas, currently living in Bangladesh, who fled genocide in Myanmar.
"The US is proud to be the leading donor of humanitarian aid to the Rohingya and urges partners' assistance worldwide for the Rohingyas," she said.
During her visit to a Rohingya camp in Cox's Bazar on Wednesday, Under Secretary Zeya had an "important conversation" with Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner (RRRC) Mizanur Rahman.
"I thanked him for RRRC's support to Rohingya refugees and his efforts to ensure U.S. humanitarian aid advances safe and dignified conditions for Rohingya," she tweeted.
After engagements with Rohingyas in Cox's Bazar, Zeya highlighted Bangladeshi hosts' generosity and the need for global donor support.
The US Under Secretary met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her official residence this morning.
After her meeting with the Prime Minister, she will have a series of meetings till tonight.
She is scheduled to have dinner with PM's Private Industries and Investment Advisor Salman F Rahman apart from her other engagements throughout the day, a diplomatic source confirmed.
The US Under Secretary will have meetings with Law Minister Anisul Haq and Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan before her meeting with Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen on Thursday at noon.
"Thrilled to be in Bangladesh. Thanks for the warm welcome," Under Secretary, Zeya tweeted after her arrival in Dhaka on Tuesday evening.
She spent a busy day in the Rohingya camp at Cox’s Bazar on Wednesday.
Zeya leads global diplomatic efforts to strengthen democracy, advance universal human rights, support refugees and humanitarian relief, promote the rule of law and counternarcotics cooperation, fight corruption and intolerance, prevent armed conflict, and eliminate human trafficking.
US Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu and Deputy Assistant Administrator of the Bureau for Asia, USAID Anjali Kaur are part of the delegation, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Dhaka witnessed a series of visits from Washington in the recent past, including a visit by Under Secretary for Political Affairs, Victoria Nuland, on March 19-23, 2022.
Donald Lu also visited Bangladesh earlier this year. Lu has been heavily involved in setting Washington's Bangladesh policy in the recent past.
