Farooq Sobhan, a special envoy of the chief adviser, Fakhruddin Ahmed, leaves Dhaka for Washington this morning to gather support of US officials and lawmakers as well as United Nations officials for the interim government.

A former foreign secretary and ex-executive chairman of the Board of Investment, Farooq is scheduled to stay 10 days in the Untied States to complete the mission he was assigned to in a secret manner in April, according to foreign ministry officials.

The move to send him as a special envoy is apparently aimed at abetting the growing criticism by the US administration and powerful lobbies against the crackdown on Bangladeshi politicians and absence of a timetable for holding the next general elections.

This will be the first top-level visit from Bangladesh to the US since the takeover by the current administration following promulgation of the state of emergency on January 11.

When contacted, Farooq declined to talk to the press and his office, the Bangladesh Enterprise Institute, also said he would not tell anything about the planned visit.

A foreign ministry release dated May 1, however, quoted the foreign adviser, Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, as saying that ‘he will meet key officials and legislators in connection with bilateral relations, both political and economic, including market access to the
US of Bangladeshi manufactures such as RMG.’

The ministry officials said Farooq, considered a seasoned diplomat, would explain various reform measures undertaken by the present administration to combat corruption and create a level-playing field for holding free, fair and credible elections in Bangladesh.

The special envoy is expected to meet US senators, congressmen, National Security Council members and other officials of the State Department.

He is also scheduled to meet the UN secretary-general, Ban Ki-Moon, and top official of the United Nations Electoral Assistance Department.

The UN headquarters had issued a statement warning to stop Bangladesh’s participation in the UN peacekeeping missions when the caretaker government led by the president, Iajuddin Ahmed, was heading for holding the January-22 elections, which was

boycotted by a number of major political parties.

Farooq Sobhan is scheduled to return home on May 14.

© The Bangladesh Journal