US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Nisha Desai Biswal during her recent visit to Dhaka said Washington wants to know Bangladesh's counterterrorism strategy for the future.
She came to Dhaka on Sunday on behalf of President Barack Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry to express the support of the United States to the people and government of Bangladesh after the two terrorist attacks that took place in the first week of July.
She had a series of meetings with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, Foreign Minister Ah Mahmood Ali, International Affairs Adviser to the PM Gowher Rizvi and other senior officials of the government.
A senior government official said in all the meetings, Nisha wanted to know the counterterrorism strategy Bangladesh is planning to employ in the future.
Washington wants to help Dhaka combat terrorism and violent extremism by engaging itself with the security system of Bangladesh, he said.
Another government official said during her meeting with the home minister, Nisha handed over a proposal for US assistance in this regard.
The prime minister during her meeting with Nisha emphasised information sharing, another official said.
There was an indication from the US that the terrorists are home-grown but probably have established links with the international terrorist networks, the official said.
Strong coordination among the intelligence and law enforcing agencies were discussed in different meetings with the US officials.
The principal investigation agency in the United States, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), is assisting the law enforcing agencies in Bangladesh and they will do more if the government agrees.
Over 20 people including nine Italian, seven Japanese, one Bangladeshi-American and one Indian were killed in an attack in Gulshan’s Holey Artisan Bakery on July 1.
Six days later, on July 7, four people including two policemen were killed at Sholakia during Eid prayers.
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