FBI regular in Dhaka

The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is discussing with Bangladesh a proposal to post a permanent representative in Dhaka.

The issue was discussed during the Dhaka visit of a senior FBI official, Assistant Director of its International Operations Division, Michael S. Welch.

During his stay in Dhaka this week, Welch met Bangladesh Home Minister Muhiuddin Khan Alamgir and Inspector General of Police Hassan Mahmood Khandaker and other senior officials, said an US embassy press release in Dhaka.

But it did not provide the exact dates of Welch’s visit to Dhaka, perhaps in keeping with the tradition of secrecy in movement that is followed in such agencies.

“To further underscore the FBI’s commitment to partnering with the people of Bangladesh and promote the rule of law, Assistant Director Welch discussed plans for the FBI to soon post a permanent representative in Dhaka, who will continue efforts to assist Bangladeshi authorities in joint investigative endeavours and subject matter expert exchanges,” the release said.

The FBI maintains a Legal Attaché representative in more than 75 countries around the world, who liaise with local law enforcement agencies to fight crime. These representatives are posted at the invitation of the national governments.

The press release says the agency maintains ‘strong ties’ with Bangladesh law enforcement agencies in the fight against global criminal networks and have a strong record of engagement in joint training and capacity-building efforts.

In recent years, the US agencies have taken particular interest in Bangladesh in their global fight against Islamist terrorism.