"No departure. No new paradigm. To the contrary, we have strong and positive and friendly and constructive relations with Bangladesh, in our relations with Bangladesh, as with our relations with any country," said State Department's Deputy Spokesman Adam Ereli in a press briefing in Washington last week.

Ereli said: "The course and direction of those relations are determined bilaterally, between the two countries, and a full understanding and appreciation for the interests and desires and views of that country."

The questioner mentioned the visit of a senior State Department official to India and quoted reports of some influential newspapers in India quoting the official, saying that Washington and New Delhi are interested in deciding about the future course of relations in Bangladesh.

Clarifying that comment, Ereli said, "That's not inconsistent with when we're talking about regional -- when you're talking with regional actors about events in the region, obviously other countries may come up as a topic for discussion. But one should not mistake that for a substitute or alternative to direct engagement bilaterally."