Donald Lu To Visit Bangladesh After India

In the wake of a power shift in Bangladesh following a mass coup and ongoing unrest in neighboring India, US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, Donald Lu, is visiting both nations. His seven-day tour, concluding on September 16, comes during a time of internal and external pressures on the Modi government and a significant state reform challenge faced by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, who now leads Bangladesh’s interim government.

The US State Department announced Lu’s visit in a press release on Tuesday, September 10. His trip to India and Bangladesh aims to reaffirm the US commitment to fostering economic growth and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

Diplomatic sources reveal that discussions between Lu's delegation and the interim Bangladeshi government will focus on economic growth, financial stability, and development assistance. A high-level bilateral economic dialogue is set for September 14-15 in Dhaka, where key officials, including Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus, will participate. The US team will feature representatives from Treasury, State, Commerce, and USAID.

While in New Delhi, Lu will attend the India Ideas Summit, emphasizing cooperation in development, security, women’s economic empowerment, and Indo-Pacific defense collaboration.