By IANS,
Dhaka : Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Sunday sought help from the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to find out the ringleaders of the mutiny and bloodshed by the country’s border guards.
Hasina sought the assistance during a telephone conversation with US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Richard Boucher Sunday morning, according to a foreign ministry statement.
During the phone talk, the prime minister observed that the Feb 25-26 Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) mutiny might be part of a “conspiracy”, the Daily Star reported.
She sought assistance of the FBI in the investigation to dig out real culprits and mete out appropriate punishment to them.
The US embassy in a statement said Boucher, on behalf of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, telephoned Hasina to express continued support for the Bangladesh government and its people.
Boucher lauded the government’s efforts to assist the survivors, honour those who were killed, and bring those guilty to justice.
He stressed the importance of national unity during this crucial time and encouraged all Bangladeshis to work together to overcome this “national tragedy”.
The senior state department official emphasised, in particular, the importance of cooperation between the government and the opposition to resolve the crisis.
He reiterated the US’ willingness to extend “all possible assistance to the government”.
Commander of the US Pacific Command Admiral Timothy Keating, meanwhile, wrote to Army chief General Moeen U. Ahmed Saturday to express condolences for the loss of life.