<div style="text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size: 1rem;">Bangladesh and the United States are holding the ninth annual bilateral security dialogue in Dhaka as part of "comprehensive security relationship" between the two governments.</span><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">Khandker Masudul Alam, Director General (North America) is leading the Bangladesh delegation while the US Side is led by Mira Resnick, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Regional Security in the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs.</div><div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">The dialogue began at 9am on Tuesday at the Foreign Service Academy</div><div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">The security dialogue is an annual, civilian-led discussion that touches on all elements of the security relationship between the two countries.</div><div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">Representatives from both sides will discuss Indo-Pacific regional issues, security and human rights, military cooperation, peacekeeping, security assistance, and counterterrorism, among other topics, said the US Embassy in Dhaka in a media note.</div><div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">The United States and Bangladesh have a strong security partnership and share many interests in the Indo-Pacific region, said the embassy.</div><div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">Both countries share a vision to ensure the Indo-Pacific region is free, open, peaceful, and secure.  </div><div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">This year, the security dialogue closely follows the bilateral defense dialogue, which took place August 23 and 24 in Dhaka.</div><div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">The bilateral defense dialogue featured senior officers and civilians from the US and Bangladeshi militaries.</div><div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">They discussed a range of issues specific to the military-to-military relationship, including military education, peacekeeping and upcoming military exercises, including next year’s Disaster Response Exercise &amp; Exchange.</div><div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">The security dialogue covers a wide range of issues related to partnership between the two countries including strategic priorities and regional security issues, defense cooperation, civilian security cooperation, UN peacekeeping, counter-terrorism, and countering violent extremism. UNB</div><div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/kh</div>