US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Nisha Desai Biswal is likely to arrive here on a two-day official on Sunday to discuss security issues with Bangladesh. Though there has been no official announcement yet, a diplomatic source said Biswal will meet Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan and Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali during her visit in the wake of Bangladesh’s worst-ever terrorist attack on a café in city’s Gulshan area. Contacted, an official at the US Embassy said they are not aware of such visit mentioning that the Assistant Secretary’s travel is always announced by Washington. Biswal visited Dhaka on May 5 and 6 last after the brutal murder of USAID staff Xulhaz Mannan in Dhaka on April 25. Meanwhile, 22 people, including nine Italians, seven Japanese, one Indian national and two policemen were killed inside and outside the café during the attack on July 1. Later on July 2 morning, six people with five attackers were also killed during a commando operation. Thirteen of the hostages were rescued alive in the operation. On Friday afternoon, blood-soaked young man Shawon who was detained from outside the Holey Artisan Bakery during the hostage standoff died at a city hospital. — Dhaka, July 9 (UNB)
