Pompeo discusses increasing cooperation with Bangladesh FM: State Dept

"Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo met today in Washington with Bangladesh Foreign Minister A.K. Abdul Momen. They discussed our increasing economic, security, and counterterrorism cooperation," Ortagus said.

Pompeo also stressed the importance of good governance, transparency and democratic values in Bangladesh as country continues to emerge as a key partner for the US in the Indo-Pacific region, the readout continued.

Furthermore, the secretary applauded Bangladesh for its generosity in continuing to host 1 million Rohingya refugees from neighboring Myanmar. He added that the US would work with the international community to increase support for the refugees, while also addressing the root causes and conditions in Myanmar.

Rohingyas, a Muslim minority in Myanmar, have been fleeing their homes to avoid waves of violence following the government's deployment of police and military units in response to an attack by Rohingya insurgents on security posts in Rakhine state on August 25, 2017.

According to the UN refugee agency (UNHCR), more than 745,000 Rohingya refugees have fled from Rakhine state to Bangladesh since August 2017, escaping violence in Myanmar and joining roughly 200,000 others already displaced there.