In a move that indicates the US security establishment seeks to initiate deeper functional collaboration with Bangladesh's intelligence agencies, a six-member team of senior officers from the country's Special Branch, the National Security Intelligence and the Directorate General of Field Intelligence will leave for Washington DC on April 10.
Two officers from each of the three organisations will leave Dhaka's Shah Jalal International Airport tomorrow and return on April 15.
The visit is aimed at providing briefings on specific issues of interest for the US intelligence community insofar as Bangladesh and its neighbourhood is concerned.
While Northeast News is aware of the identities of the Special Branch officers, Bangladeshi sources were wary to disclose the names of the operatives from the NSI and DGFI.
The two Special Branch officers are of the rank of Additional Inspector General and Special Superintendent of Police.
The BNP-led government has accorded approval to this crucial visit which takes place barely two months after Tarique Rahman was elected Prime Minister after his party won a landslide victory in the 13th parliamentary election.
What is noteworthy about the visit of the Bangladeshi intelligence officers is that no such initiative was taken during the 18-month duration of the Mohammad Yunus-led interim regime which had the full backing of the US State Department as well as the security and defence establishments.
The visit was given approval by the BNP-led government after initiatives were taken by the US government and the specific agencies whose officials will conduct the briefings most likely in a city not too far from Washington DC.
"The briefings are expected to be on specific areas of collaboration between the Bangladeshi and US security organisations. Besides this, the focus will also be on exchange of information on not only domestic but also regional issues of mutual interests," an official in Dhaka said.