Advisor to the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives and the Ministry of Land. F. Hassan US Charge d’Affaires Helen Lafave met with Arif. Hasan Arif participated in a meeting with a delegation led by Charge d’Affaires Helen Lafave of the US Embassy at the Local Government Department office of the Secretariat on Sunday morning. In this bilateral meeting, there was a detailed discussion on the development of relations between the two countries.
Adviser Hasan Arif said in the meeting, we are working as trustees of students, public and workers. We are working to establish a democratic environment in the country. We want to build such an environment in Bangladesh, in which people’s representatives can manage the state through free and fair elections. US support for the interim government will contribute to democratic practices in Bangladesh.
 He said that the ministries should not be dependent on individuals, they should be system dependent. Such a system should be established so that no matter who the minister holds the seat, there is no disruption in the system.
Talking about the ongoing unrest in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, the advisor said, I visited Rangamati yesterday. I discussed there. Conspiracy is being done from outside to destroy harmony in Chittagong Hill Tracts including Rangamati. No one knows where those who carried out these attacks came from. A strong investigation committee is being formed to find out who is behind this.
US Charge d’Affaires Helen LaFave stressed the importance of women’s empowerment and urban health programs in Bangladesh. Hasan Arif said in this regard, women are working in the construction of rural roads in the local government engineering department, women are working as cleaners in the municipality and city corporation, and the secretary of the rural development and cooperative department is also a woman. We expect the support of international donors for infrastructural development and economic prosperity, including the improvement of public health.
Local Government Department Additional Secretary Md. Nazrul Islam, Narayan City Corporation Administrator AHM Kamruzzaman, USAID Mission Director Reed Eschliman, Political Economic Councilor Eric Gillan and many others were also present in the meeting.
