Reaz, also adviser to the foreign ministry, left Dhaka Thursday night for Washington. His trip will be the first political level visit from Bangladesh after George W Bush was sworn-in as the US president for the second time last month.

Officials here told the news agency that Reaz-Rice talks would mainly focus on the current political situation in Bangladesh, particularly in the aftermath of the killing of former finance minister Shah AMS Kibria in a grenade attack in Habiganj on January 27.

The US administration has strongly condemned the recent incidents of political terrorism in Bangladesh, including the August 21 and January 27 grenade attacks.

Condoleezza Rice made a phone call to Prime Minister Khaleda Zia on February 1 and requested her to pursue a thorough and transparent investigation into the killing of Kibria.

During his talks in Washington, Reaz will apprise Rice and other US officials about Prime Minister Khaleda Zia government's commitment to fight against terrorism, track down the killers and bring them to justice.

The officials said an FBI special agent is already in Dhaka at the request of the government to start the process of investigation into the Habiganj grenade attack.

Reaz will also apprise the new US administration about Dhaka's clear stand against international terrorism and its commitment to global peace.

The special envoy will also focus on the government's initiatives to strengthen democracy and improve the human rights situation in Bangladesh. Economic and other issues may also come up during his meetings with the US officials.

Reaz Rahman will return to Dhaka on February 18.