Senior US diplomat Nisha Desai Biswal today met top Bangladeshi officials as well as Dhaka-based diplomats including the Indian High Commissioner here and discussed the security situation in the country following two high-profile terror attacks in the Muslim-majority nation.
Biswal, the US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs had an exclusive meeting with Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Harsh Vardhan Shringla and discussed the security situation in Bangladesh.
An Indian diplomat preferring anonymity said Biswal herself sought the meeting with Shringla.
Biswal also met with the envoys of UK, Canada and Australia over the security situation in Bangladesh.
Biswal also visited the Holey Artisan Bakery in Dhaka's diplomatic enclave where terrorists killed 22 people including nine Italians, seven Japanese, one Indian and an American citizen of Bangladeshi origin on July 1.
The US point person for South Asia, stayed there for around 20 minutes amid police barricade surrounding the area.
The radical Islamic State (IS) has reportedly claimed responsibility for the attack on the popular eatery, which is frequented by foreigners. The second terror attack targeted the country's biggest Eid gathering at Sholakia in northern Kishoreganj district.
Biswal is visiting Dhaka following the two high-profile attacks and has offered Washington's support to build Bangladesh's capabilities in countering terrorism.
She also met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's security adviser retired major general Tarek Siddiqui and Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal. Earlier, she met Foreign Minister A H Mahmood Ali.
US Secretary of State John Kerry had last week phoned Prime Minister Hasina and "encouraged" her government to conduct its investigation in accordance with the highest international standards and offered immediate assistance from US law enforcement, including the FBI.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh today responded cautiously to the US
proposal for providing security assistance to the country in combating Islamist militancy saying the government would assess areas of requirement for possible American support.
"The United States has offered us expert assistance to enhance our capability to control terrorism," home minister Khan said after Biswal called on him here.
He added "We will assess what help we need. Then we will let them (US) know".
"I am here to offer US assistance and support for Bangladesh's own effort against terrorism and violent extremism," Biswal said while lauding Bangladesh's efforts in tackling extremism.
She underscored the US' "broad-based" understanding with Bangladesh and added that her country's support is an "extension of long and deep partnership based on shared values of democracy, tolerance and inclusion".
The IS and al-Qaeda in Indian Peninsula have claimed responsibility for some of the other attacks on Hindu priests, Christians and secular activists in Bangladesh however, the government denies the presence of IS or al-Qaeda in the country.
Police last month launched a nationwide anti-militancy week-long crackdown to halt these deadly attacks.
