John Kerry pays "extraordinary" visit to Bangladesh

Dhaka, Aug 29: US Secretary of State John Kerry arrived here on Monday (Aug 29) on a day's visit that is deemed "extraordinary" and "significant". [Bangladesh cops kill JMB commander involved in temple attack]

Kerry landed at Dhaka's Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport and was greeted by the Bangladeshi Foreign Minister, AH Mahmood Ali.

US envoy to Dhaka Marcia Bernicat was present, reported the Daily Star.

During his nine-hour stay, Kerry is expected to meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Foreign Secretary Mahmood Ali. He may also meet opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson Khaleda Zia.

Kerry first visited the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum to pay respects to Bangladesh's founding father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, bdnews24 reported.

From Dhaka, Kerry will visit India, where cooperation between the US, India and Bangladesh in combating terrorism will be a priority agenda during discussions.

Kerry's maiden visit to Bangladesh, at the verge of President Barack Obama administration's tenure-end, was deemed "significant" by diplomats as they thought the US was giving importance to Hasina's government after lending a cold shoulder for years.

According to diplomatic sources, the issue of terrorism and militancy will dominate Kerry's talks in the aftermath of a spate of militant attacks in Bangladesh.

IANS