In the backdrop of two major terrorist attacks including the one in Gulshan last week, US assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asian affairs Nisha Desai Biswal is coming to Bangladesh on a two-day visit early next week, said diplomatic sources concerned.
She visits Dhaka within a span of two months as Bangladesh is reeling under terrorist attacks, especially the ones reportedly claimed by militant outfit Islamic State.
Diplomatic sources in Washington and Dhaka said Nisha Desai, who is most likely to arrive on Sunday, would focus on issues of terrorism and militancy during her meeting with Bangladesh officials.
She may meet foreign minister AH Mahmood Ali, home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, foreign secretary Md. Shahidul Haque and some other senior officials of the government.
The US official was scheduled to visit Dhaka later this month but the latest attacks prompted Washington to send her early.
The attack on Holey Artisan Bakery in Dhaka diplomatic zone of Gulshan on 1 July claimed 28 lives including 18 foreigners.
The US official is expected to discuss with authorities in Dhaka matters relating to security and US cooperation in addressing terrorism.
US president Barack Obama has said Washington would continue to stand with Bangladesh in its resolve to fight terrorism.
Diplomats stationed in Dhaka, in a meeting with foreign minister AH Mahmood Ali, pointed to lapses in security arrangement expressing their concerns after the Dhaka attack.
Dhaka in the meantime sought cooperation from neighbouring countries and other foreign friends to tackle militancy.
Source: Prothom-Alo
“It is to India and Bangladesh’s mutual interest that the Indian government starts to realize that at the root of the rising spectre of extremism in Bangladesh is current government’s relentless repression and suppression of opposition and complete absence of democratic space in the country. I am now more than convinced that if we allow Hasina government, which is virtually an enforced government that does not have any peoples’ mandate to govern to continue as business-as-usual (and this is no secret that this would be the likely scenario so long it is blessed by India) there is will be more extremism whose effects will not only destabilize Bangladesh even more but would also affect India especially its immediate neighbour, West Bengal. In fact if for some reason Bangladesh’s extremism spills over to West Bengal and becomes uncontrollable, it would also give the central an excuse to declare state of emergency in the state and take over its reign. Therefore, at a time when Momota has brought stability and stressing economic growth as her main thrust in this term of her government it is not only in India’s interest but more importantly, in West Bengal’s interest that peace and stability return to Bangladesh and getting a government elected through free and fair election the soonest will be a good start. Things are getting uglier by the day, more we delay in restoring democracy further we shall slip into the grips of the extremists.” – Adil Khan
Tragedy is, no body in the seat of power would give up the chair till the end & feel they can last forever & pass the baton to sons & grand sons !!. Its a point of no return.