Rocca flies in today to talk terrorism
May visit Ahmadiyya mosque
Staff Correspondent
US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Christina B Rocca will arrive in Dhaka today on a two-day official visit to discuss a number of issues, including the persecution of the Ahamadiyyas and the government's steps to tackle terrorism and fundamentalism. She may visit an Ahmadiyya mosque in Dhaka. Her visit will be the first high-level tour from the United States after President George W Bush was elected for a second term. She visited Bangladesh months before the US presidential election last year. Official sources said she will meet a number of government and opposition leaders, including Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, Leader of the Opposition Sheikh Hasina and Foreign Minister M Morshed Khan. Foreign ministry sources said the government will discuss with Rocca quota-free access of Bangladeshi products to the USA. The United States is an important market for Bangladesh as it buys one-third of Bangladesh's total exports and half of its garment exports, generating over $2 billion a year. The government will also pursue the US official about inclusion of Bangladesh on the list of the USAIDS Millennium Challenge Account under which the poor and developing countries receive $20 to 30 crore to promote socio-economic development, economic freedom and entrepreneurship. Bangladesh has not yet received any funds from the account. During the meeting with Rocca, the government will also discuss capacity building of the border security force. During a recent visit by a top US military official in Dhaka, Bangladesh asked for US assistance to modernise the Bangladesh Rifles with modern weapons, helicopters and gun-ships.
| 
