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FM to ask why Dhaka on terror-risk list

Meeting with Powel in Washington on Jan 24

STAFF CORRESPONDENT
Foreign Minister M Morshed Khan will not request Secretary of State Colin Powell to drop Bangladesh from the terror-risk list when they meet in Washington on January 24.
Morshed leaves today for the US, and says, "I am going there under the prime minister's instruction to understand the situation and to know what are the criteria the US follows to include a nation in the list. I will not request him to drop
Bangladesh from the list, as it is a unilateral decision of the US."
But he will meet expatriate Bangladeshis to understand the problems they might face due to the US decision and arrange counselling to help them face any difficulties.
Speaking at a 'Meet the reporters' function organised by the Dhaka Reporters' Unity at its office in the city, Morshed said he will also discuss other bilateral and international issues in Washington.
Morshed said 'an antigovernment political party' was trying to portray Bangladesh as a haven for fundamentalists and the Taliban. "They even sent pictures of some Islamic jalsas (functions) and reports to the US Department of Justice."
Asked whether he blames the Awami League for the US move to include Bangladesh in the restrictive list, Morshed said, "I did not mean that."
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However, he said some of the statements by the opposition leader did not help the nation. "If you (the opposition) have anything to say against the government or the party in power, you have the liberty to do that. But please, don't say anything that might go against the nation," he said.
"Whatever restrictions have been imposed on the visa, you (the opposition) have failed to create any gap in the relations between Bangladesh and the US. We are on good terms and will work closely."
Asked whether the government failed to get prior information about the US restriction, Morshed said, "The US Department of Justice signed the document on January 9 and sent it to the state department on January 15. We have came to know about it on January 16."
Morshed claimed that many US Congressmen even failed to understand why Bangladesh has been put on the list.
He said the former US first lady and senator, Hilary Clinton, and some others will lead a rally of expatriate Bangladeshis in New York. Citizens of some other countries which have been put on the list will also join the rally.