, July 23 -- Bangladesh on Thursday expressed optimism that the upcoming visit of US Special Envoy for South and Central Asia Sergio Gor to Bangladesh will help strengthen relations between Bangladesh and the United States, with new areas of cooperation.

"The relationship between Bangladesh and the US has always been good, and that relationship is getting stronger under the current government led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman," said State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam on Thursday, hoping that the visit will bring a new dimension to relations between the two countries.

Sergio Gor is likely to arrive in Dhaka on July 30 on a three-day visit, a diplomatic source told UNB, noting that he will try to understand Bangladesh...