The Awami League (AL) president gave the call when newly appointed US Ambassador in Bangladesh Harry K Thomas met her at her Dhanmondi residence.

"Our leader told the US envoy that gas export might be an option but we have to think about alternative ways to derive maximum benefit from natural gas. We prefer to meet the demand of the nation first. We have to see how to optimise benefits from our natural resources", the AL chief's Political Secretary Saber Hossain Chowdhury quoted her as saying at the meeting.

AL General Secretary Abdul Jalil, who was present during the hour-long discussion, told reporters later, "We are not against gas export but before taking any decision in this regard, we must have to know the actual reserve of natural gas that is still unknown to us. If we have surplus for export, we don't have any objection."

The ambassador told reporters they pledged to work together "to find in a non-violent way to solution of problems that the United States and Bangladesh face."

In reply to a question he said, " We discussed all the issues and I think my views on gas have already been made public and I don't need to repeat those."

Abdul Jalil said the envoy expressed 'concern' at the slide in law and order.

Thomas expressed his condolences for the loss of the AL workers in recent days, he said.

"Awami League expressed great concern about the recent rise of communal militants in the country and government-sponsored oppression on opposition forces. We told the envoy that the opposition forces were deprived of their constitutional rights to protest misrule of the government", Jalil added.

Talking on good governance, the AL leaders were critical of the role of Hawa Bhaban which, they said, has emerged as a 'parallel' government.

AL presidium member Kazi Jafrullah and senior US embassy officials Judith Chammas and Dudas Mccullough were also present at the meeting.