The Peace Corps in Washington, DC took the decision over the possibility of terrorist attacks on the Peace Corps volunteers here, "perhaps in retaliation for the recent capture of five of the top seven leaders of [Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh]", said a statement issued by the US Embassy in Dhaka yesterday.

The Peace Corps made the decision following a careful assessment of Bangladesh's prevailing security environment, and did not base its conclusions on any single threat or incident, the statement said.

The US Embassy, however, made it clear that security situation in Bangladesh will be periodically reviewed to determine whether to end or continue the suspension of Peace Corps programme in the country.

It further stated, "We have welcomed the capture of Abdur Rahman and Bangla Bhai of the [Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh] as significant steps forward in the campaign against terrorism and extremism. Ironically, one consequence of that success is concern over possible reprisal attacks against Americans or other Western nationals by JMB activists still at large."

Prior to the suspension decision, US Embassy officials told The Daily Star that there were as many as 71 Peace Corps volunteers mostly teaching English language in various districts.

Earlier, American Centre Director Jonathan Cebra told The Daily Star that most of the Peace Corps volunteers had already left their respective workstations for Dhaka.

The Peace Corps programme, starting in Bangladesh in 1998, was once suspended for some time in late 2001.

In addition to the primary assignment of teaching English, the Peace Corps volunteers provide assistance to environmental organisations, indigenous peoples' groups and community English resource centres.