The US appreciates Bangladesh's law enforcement agencies' role in countering terrorism and it deserves praise, Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali yesterday stated Secretary of State John Kerry as saying in a meeting during Mahmood's February 17-19 visit there. 

The US assured to provide any form of assistance to combat terrorism, Cabinet Secretary M Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan quoted Mahmood as saying in yesterday's weekly Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. 

Mahmood also informed Kerry that terrorist activities in the name of political programmes in Bangladesh have come down due to the agencies' coordinated efforts, Musharraf told journalists after the meeting.

Kerry also assured Mahmood US assistance in handing over a convicted killer of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman while President Barack Obama himself wants Kerry to visit Bangladesh immediately, Musharraf said, adding that the Cabinet thought the visit was a success.  

The cabinet also approved the draft "The International Finance Corporation (IFC) Act-2015" subject to the law ministry's vetting.

Musharraf said funds received from IFC as assistance would be deposited in a consolidated fund of the government from where any subscription or payment to IFC would be made and Bangladesh Bank would be the custodian of IFC's assets in Bangladesh.

The cabinet also approved in principle "Bangladesh Rural Development Board Act-2015".