DHAKA, 8 February 2005 — US Ambassador Harry K. Thomas yesterday discussed with Prime Minister Khaleda Zia the Bangladesh government’s request for “US law-enforcement assistance” in the investigation of the Jan. 27 grenade attack in eastern Habiganj district.

“Ambassador Thomas and the prime minister reviewed possible terms of reference for such assistance and agreed that this matter should be pursued with appropriate officials at the Ministry of Home Affairs,” the US Embassy said in an official statement in Dhaka.

It said: “ The request for US law-enforcement assistance remains under review in Washington.”

Ambassador Thomas discussed recent developments in Bangladesh and reiterated the US government’s “strong condemnation” of the Jan. 27 attack and other acts of political terrorism in Bangladesh.

The envoy urged the Bangladesh government to conduct “a vigorous investigation to identify, arrest, prosecute and convict in a timely manner the perpetrators of these heinous crimes”.

In the Habiganj blasts, former Finance Minister S.A.M.S. Kibria and four others were killed and a number of others wounded.

Officials of the Prime Minister’s Office said Prime Minister Khaleda assured all support of her government to the US investigation team due in Dhaka soon to probe the Habiganj grenade attack.

Her assurance came when the US ambassador in Dhaka, Harry K. Thomas, called on her and discussed various matters related to the investigations. The government’s request for assistance of US intelligence in unearthing the Habiganj incident is under review in Washington and a team is expected in the capital “soon”, official sources said.

During the meeting, the US ambassador mentioned the Aug. 21 grenade attack on an opposition Awami League rally at Bangabandhu Avenue and said that most of the evidence was “harmed due to access of all kinds of groups to the site”.

The prime minister assured the ambassador that the government would take “all necessary measures” to preserve the evidence of the Habiganj incident for the sake of investigation.

“The government wants to make the investigation totally transparent and thorough, and has requested all concerned to provide necessary information they have regarding the incident,” she said.

Harry K. Thomas expressed deep sorrow over Kibria’s killing in the grenade blast in his meeting. Khaleda said that the government was shocked and formed a five-member high-level committee to investigate the incident.

A tele-talk between Khaleda and US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice also came up for discussion during the meeting between the prime minister and the diplomat. During the meeting, other bilateral issues of strengthening ties between the two countries, including trade and commerce, also came up for discussion.

The US ambassador appreciated the development activities taken up by the present government, including women’s education and empowerment of women.

He said the United States wants to work together for development of Bangladesh and would continue to assist in the flourishing of multiparty democracy here.

The prime minister’s political secretary Harris Chowdhury and principal secretary Dr. Kamal Siddiqui were present on the occasion.