The United States sees the upcoming "Partnership Dialogue" with Bangladesh as an opportunity to expand the "robust relationship" between the two countries, according to a diplomat posted at the US Embassy in Dhaka. Both sides emphasise the multi-faceted nature of the relationship cannot be underrmined by any single issue.

The entire gamut of relations between the two countries Security cooperation, trade, labour rights, investment opportunities, human rights, governance, global threats including climate change, regional issues including a free and open Indo-Pacific region are all expected to fall within the ambit of the dialogue, to be held in Dhaka on March 20.

"In the dialogue we will discuss opportunities to expand a robust relationship, ways we can further enhance close ties on a range of areas of cooperation," said the US Embassy official in Dhaka on Tuesday evening, speaking on condition of anonymity.

While briefing a small group of journalists, he said Bangladesh-US ties go beyond the government-to-government sphere, with the people to-people contacts and commercial relationships remaining active and growing.

US Department of State's Under Secretary of Political Affairs Victoria Nuland will lead a U.S. delegation next week here for the 8th bilateral "Partnership Dialogue" between the two countries.

Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen will lead the Bangladesh delegation.

In this fiftieth year of diplomatic relations, Washington seeks to "deepen a strong and multi-faceted relationship" built on mutual respect and shared interests with Bangladesh, said the diplomat.

During this visit, Under Secretary Nuland, whose rank makes her the third-most senior official at the State Department, will have the opportunity to make people-to-people and business connections.

"We have a long history of cooperation between our two countries," said the diplomat at the US Embassy.

The United States has been a consistent partner in the success stories of Bangladesh, and this dialogue, and others that follow this year, will demonstrate their willingness to remain so in the future.

Earlier, Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen said the relations between Bangladesh and the United States have many factors and determinants and the relations will be enhanced and deepened through a number of dialogues, visits back-and-forth, and track-2 engagements in the coming months.

"To this end, we are aiming at fostering a closer understanding with the US," he said recently, adding that Bangladesh fully intends to "enhance and deepen" its ties with the US.

Meanwhile, a rung or two above the dialogue, Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen is scheduled to have a bilateral meeting (in-person) with his US counterpart, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in Washington on April 4.