Chowdhury also said Bangladesh as an independent and sovereign country takes decisions considering national interest and this should be respected by all.

He did not say anything specific about Dhaka's position on the postSaddam government in Baghdad, as there are reports that it would be an Anglo-American sponsored government there after the war.

"This is a matter of future. Wait and see, let the war end," he said.

However, he said Dhaka will join post-war reconstruction and rehabilitation work in Iraq under internationally agreed arrangements and UN sponsorship.

"Like Afghanistan, we are ready to take part in the reconstruction and rehabilitation of war-ravaged Iraq under UN umbrella," Chowdhury said.

About dispatching humanitarian aid for Iraqi civilians from Bangladesh, he said the authorities concerned were discussing immediate requirements with the Red Crescent Society. The government committed to send emergency aid worth two million US dollars.

He said he is not aware if any Bangladeshi had gone to Iraq to fight the US-led forces.

About the economic impact of the war on Bangladesh, he said, "As of today (Thursday), there has not been any negative impact on remittance or (export of) manpower."

On the Indo-Bangladesh secretarylevel meeting in Dhaka this week, he said the two sides were working on setting a convenient date for the proposed meeting.