& çâÌæÚUæð´ ·¤è ¥ôÚU Îð¹Ùæ ÁæÚUè ÚU¹ð´ ¥ÍæüÌ ¥ÂÙð ÜÿØ ÂÚU ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´Ð ãæÚU Ù ×æÙð´, €UØô´ç·¤ ·¤æ× ·¤ÚUÙð âð ¥æÂ·¤ô ©gðàØ ·¤è Âýæç# ãôÌè ãñ ¥õÚU ÁèßÙ ·¤æ ¹æÜèÂÙ ÎêÚU ãôÌæ ãñÐ ÖÜð ãè ÁèßÙ ×ð´ ç·¤ÌÙè Öè ·¤çÆÙæ§ü €UØô´ Ù ¥æ°, çÁ™ææâæ ¥õÚU ©ˆâæã ÕÙæ° ÚU¹ð´Ð ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´, ÜÿØ ã×ðàææ ¥æÂ·Ô¤ Âæâ ãôÌð ãñ´ çÁ‹ãð´ ÂæÙð ·Ô¤ çÜ° ÂýØæâ ¥æÂ ·¤Öè Öè àæéM¤ ·¤ÚU â·¤Ìð ãñ´Ð

Tarique meets FBI, Pentagon officials in US

NSI chief was also present

Staff Correspondent
Tarique Rahman, senior joint secretary general of the ruling BNP, now on a visit to the US, had exclusive meetings with top defence and intelligence officials in Washington on Tuesday, according to a report carried by a Bangla tabloid.
He had lengthy meetings with top officials of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Pentagon, the tabloid said in a report circulated by New York-based Bangla news agency "News World."
National Security Intelligence (NSI) chief Brigadier General Rezzakul Haider and some other officials accompanied Tarique at the meetings, the News World reported quoting reliable sources at the US State Department.
But officials at the Bangladesh embassy kept mum on the meetings.
The report said Tarique had talks with FBI top officials at its headquarters. State Department officials however declined to comment on it.
FBI officials apprised the BNP leader of their secret and open missions to deal with crimes across the world. The meeting mainly gave Tarique an idea of how the FBI functions and how Bangladesh can benefit from its experience in curbing crimes.
Pentagon officials also gave Tarique an idea of their experience of international terrorism and suggested what Bangladesh should do in the present global context. The FBI and Pentagon officials expressed satisfaction at Bangladesh government's role in the current war on terrorism, the report quoted the sources as saying.
The News World said Tarique's visit to different installations in US Security Zone and meetings with the security and intelligence officials created much curiosity in the US. Political leaders or officials of any country can visit the US as guest of its government but secrecy of any visit gives rise to questions, it noted.
On Tuesday evening, Tarique, eldest son of Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, had a meeting with the leaders of US Chamber of Commerce. He exchanged views on investment in Bangladesh and apprised them of the investment opportunities in the country.
On Wednesday, the BNP leader met influential US Senator John Mac Cain and Congressman Joseph Crowley, head of Bangladesh caucus in US Congress.
The same day, he met the Chairman of the National Democratic Institute, and South Asian Affairs Director of International Republican Institute. He also held talks with officials of the US Business Advisory Council in New York and officials at Microsoft Headquarters in Washington.
When contacted, close aides to Tarique and other BNP leaders in Dhaka confirmed his meetings with US defence and intelligence officials.
Tarique had earlier received an invitation from the US government, and the meetings were scheduled ahead of his visit, one aide said on condition of anonymity.
He declined to give details saying, "it is top secret."
When asked, an official of the US embassy said he is not aware of Tarique's meetings with US officials.