US Secretary of State Kerry leaves Dhaka for New Delhi

US Secretary of State John Kerry has left Dhaka for New Delhi ending his whirlwind maiden visit when he vowed to stand by Bangladesh in the fight against terrorism.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam saw him off at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 5:35pm on Monday.

The visit took place amid the US's growing security concerns in Dhaka following the July 1 terrorist attack at the Holey Artisan Bakery and O' Kitchen restaurant in which 20 hostages, including 17 foreigners, were killed.

Kerry while speaking on his visit at the capital's EMK Centre said no country was immune to the terrorists and the July 1 attack was to “divide” Bangladesh from the rest of the world.

“US is standing with Bangladesh in this fight,” he said, adding that his discussions with the prime minister and foreign minister were "very open and clear".

Kerry was the first US secretary of state to visit the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum, the place where the Bangladesh’s founding father was assassinated on Aug 15, 1975.

He praised Bangabandhu’s leadership and wrote Bangladesh was growing in his vision and under the strong leadership of his daughter Sheikh Hasina.

Leader of the Opposition Raushon Ershad, who attended his EMK Centre speech, also had a conversation after the speech.

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia met him at the US embassy’s chancery.

Kerry also later visited a garment factory in Mirpur.