Nisha Desai Biswal has arrived in Dhaka on Sunday

MNA Editorial Desk: US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Nisha Desai Biswal has arrived in Dhaka on Sunday morning. She will make a two-day visit to talk about Bangladesh’s security situation with the government following the Gulshan and Sholakia terror attacks.

Biswal is likely to have meetings with Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali and Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque at state guesthouse Padma. She will later meet with Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal on Monday.

Through her visit, Biswal is expected to offer US support for an inquiry into the July 1 attack on the Holey Artisan Bakery and security for US embassy personals and US facilities in Bangladesh.

She is likely to drive for allowing Bangladeshi private security recruits, who are protecting American officials here, to carry firearms. Biswal will also meet with the embassy representatives and diplomatic and local businesses class.

Following the July 1 attack that left 20 hostages, mostly foreigners, dead at the cafe, Bangladesh government received quick responses from the diplomatic community over security holes. The US had proposed instant help of its law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, to carry out an inquiry maintaining the highest global standard.

From Bangladesh, Biswal will fly for Colombo where she will meet with senior government officials, political leaders, and civil society representatives to discuss bilateral economic cooperation as well as democratic governance and reconciliation.

Diplomatic sources in Washington and Dhaka said Nisha Desai would focus on issues of terrorism and militancy during her meetings. She visits Dhaka within a span of two months as Bangladesh is reeling under terrorist attacks, especially the ones reportedly claimed by militant outfit Islamic State.

The US official was scheduled to visit Dhaka later this month but the latest attacks prompted Washington to send her early. Dhaka in the meantime sought cooperation from neighboring countries and other foreign friends to tackle militancy.