The US has “strong support” for Bangladesh in its battle against terrorism and extremism, said American diplomat Nisha Desai Biswal yesterday.

Following the July-1 terrorist attack at a Gulshan café, US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Biswal arrived in Bangladesh on Saturday to discuss "shared concerns" and offer US support to tackle terrorism and extremism.

She met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday afternoon at the Gono Bhaban.

During the meeting, Biswal offered US expertise in building Bangladesh's counterterrorism capabilities, and better training of law enforcers on tech-intelligence and cyber security, sources said.

The prime minister emphasised the need for sharing information to tackle terrorism.

Renewing her government's strong stance against terrorism, Hasina on Monday vowed to find the root causes of the recent terror attacks in Bangladesh.

“Children of rich families were involved in the Gulshan terror attack. We'll find out the people behind this … who're recruiting these youths," she said, reports UNB.

Biswal said the youths were from well-to-do families and one of the things to look into was that they had acted out of adventurism and not out of religious spirit.                                                                   

The US assistant secretary of state termed the recent terror attack in Bangladesh as a challenge and offered to work together to eliminate this social menace.

"We'll have to face it together, we'll have to work together, we'll extend all sorts of assistance, including technological support in this regard," she said.

Biswal also informed the prime minister of her meetings with a minister, advisors and other senior officials. She said they had discussed the work plan in details.

Hasina said some youths went missing after going to Australia and Malaysia for higher studies. She said human rights bodies without going deep into the problem blame the government and the law enforcement agencies.

Hasina said she herself had to face terror attacks several times, and pointed out the brutal August 21, 2004, grenade attack on her during the BNP-Jamaat regime that left 24 Awami League leaders and activists dead.

She also mentioned the nationwide bombings of August 17, 2005, during the meeting.

PM's Adviser Gowher Rizvi, Principal Secretary M Abul Kalam Azad and

Deputy Assistant Secretary for South Asia Manpreet Singh Anand and US Ambassador Marcia Bernicat were present in the meeting.

PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim Helal briefed reporters after the meeting.

Biswal arrived Sunday morning on a two-day visit and had a series of meetings with government leaders, advisers, foreign diplomats stationed in Dhaka, US embassy staffs and others.

She is expected to leave for Colombo this morning.

HOME MINISTER'S MEETING

During her meeting with Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, Biswal appreciated Bangladesh's response to protect US citizens living in the country.

"I am here to offer US assistance and support for Bangladesh's own efforts against terrorism and extremism. This is an extension of our long and deep partnership based on shared values of democracy, tolerance, and inclusion, and the United States remains committed to this broad-based relationship with Bangladesh of which Counter Terrorism is but one part," she told the waiting journalists after meeting with the home minister.

She said the US has taken steps to bolster the security of its staffs here.

Talking to reporters after the meeting, Minister Asaduzzaman said the US diplomat assured him of providing every possible help to Bangladesh to fight terrorism. 

"We will make an assessment over the support offered by the US to fight terrorism and then we will seek their cooperation … ," he said.

"They [US] gave us firm commitment that they will be with us to fight terrorism in Bangladesh and it was the main issue of our discussion," he added.

MEETING WITH PM'S ADVISERS

Biswal called on PM's International Affairs Adviser Gowher Rizvi and Security Adviser Maj Gen (retd) Tariq Ahmed Siddique yesterday.

During the separate meetings, Biswal assured that the US would continue to stand beside the government of Bangladesh, diplomatic sources said.

They said the US diplomat while offering “US expertise” discussed about finding new strategies to counter terrorism.

BISWAL MEETS ENVOYS

Earlier yesterday, the US diplomat met the envoys of the UK, Canada and Australia over the security situation in Bangladesh and exchanged views on the evolving situation in Bangladesh.

She sat with Canadian High Commissioner in Dhaka Benoît-Pierre Laramée, acting British High Commissioner Mark Clayton and acting Australian High Commissioner Sally-Anne Vincent at the Gulshan residence of the US Ambassador in Dhaka.

The envoys stressed that the international community needs to come together to provide all possible support to Bangladesh.

They opined that enhanced security for diplomatic community and foreign nationals living in Bangladesh was needed.

Deputy Assistant Secretary for South Asia Manpreet Singh Anand and US Ambassador Marcia Bernicat were present.

In the morning, Biswal and Ambassador Bernicat paid their respects to the victims of the July 1 attack near the café. “We share the grief of our Bangladeshi partners,” said Biswal.

Biswal is expected to meet newspaper editors before leaving Bangladesh.

At a dinner party with diplomatic community yesterday evening, Biswal said the US delegation is happy to interact with the Bangladesh government, as the government seems open to working with the US and the international community in fighting terrorism.

“The US delegation has felt that Bangladesh government officials showed more open-minded attitude towards international cooperation...” an ambassador of a leading Asian country told The Daily Star after the dinner.