Visiting US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Nisha Biswal on Monday had a meeting with envoys from three foreign missions over Bangladesh’s current security situation. The hour-long meeting was held at the residence of US Ambassador in Dhaka Marcia Bernicat in the morning following the back-to-back attacks on the Dhaka café and Sholakia in Kishoreganj district. During the meeting, Biswal had talks about security issues in Bangladesh with the Canadian High Commissioner and acting High Commissioners from the United Kingdom and Australia. Later, the diplomats of the three countries came out from Bernicat’s residence around 9:45pm, said a diplomatic source. Bernicat and US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Manpreet Anand were also present at the meeting. Dhaka, UNB News Agency Reported.
Later, Biswal and others visited the crime spot – Holey Artisan Bakery that came under terror attack on July 1. She paid homage to those killed brutally during the attack. The US official, meanwhile, met Prime Minister’s International Affairs Adviser Dr Gowher Rizvi. Biswal will also meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at 5pm after her meeting with Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, said officials at Prime Minister’s Office and the Secretariat. On Sunday, she met Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali and Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque at state guesthouse Padma and discussed Bangladesh’s bilateral relations with the United States and the security situation.
On Sunday evening, Biswal had a marathon meeting with Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Harsh Vardhan Shringla.Biswal arrived here on Sunday morning on a two-day visit to Bangladesh. She had last visited Dhaka on May 5 and 6 this year after the brutal murder of USAID staff Xulhaz Mannan here on April 25. Twenty-two people, including nine Italians, seven Japanese, one Indian national and two policemen, were killed inside and outside Artisan café during the July-1 terror attack. Later on the morning of on July 2, six people along with five attackers were also killed during a commando operation. Thirteen of the hostages were rescued alive in the operation.
On Thursday last, at least four people, including two policemen, were killed and 12 others injured in a bomb attack coupled with an exchange of gunfire after terrorists attacked a temporary police check post near Sholakia Eidgah in Sadar upazila of Kishoreganj.
