Britain is ready to help Bangladesh enhance H» capability to combat drug trafficking, visiting British Home Minister, Kenneth Clark said yesterday.

Expressing serious concern-over the sharp rise to International drug trafficking, he said that the Issue came up during the meeting with his Bangladesh counterpart Abdul Matin Choudhury and that they had discussed the ways the two governments could cooperate to deal with it.

Clarke also said that his country would continue to extend asylum to those facing

political and religious persecution.

Replying to a question on the recent changes brought in British asylum laws, somewhat restricting the scope, he said. "We would continue to give political asylum. That remains sacrosanct ."

He Said that in the last few years there had been a sudden Increase in the number of those seeking asylum.

Addressing a press conference at the state guest house, Meghna. the British Minister hoped that the misunderstandings between the Bangladesh

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