Rice said the crime of the January 27 incident in Habiganj needs to be solved in an 'open and transparent' manner, a US embassy spokesman told The Daily Star last night.

The US secretary of state soon after assuming her office called Khaleda and said the US is considering Bangladesh's request for aid in the investigation of the incident.

Rice also said she was pleased to hear that the Bangladesh government is working to solve the crime, a US embassy spokesman told The Daily Star last night.

UNB adds: The US secretary of state praised Bangladesh's stand against terrorism and expressed sorrow at the recent incident that killed former minister Shah AMS Kibria.

"This is a very sad and condemnable incident. We have strongly condemned the incident and expressed sorrow," the prime minister told Rice.

As Khaleda hoped that the US would extend co-operation in the investigation of the incident, Rice assured her of "all-out co-operation".

The US secretary of state expressed her readiness to work together in this matter.

Khaleda informed the US foreign minister about the instructions given to various law-enforcing agencies and investigation organisations to employ their all strength in finding out the perpetrators for awarding them stringent legal punishment.

Already a five-member high-level probe committee has been formed to that end, and it has already started work, she apprised the secretary of state.

Earlier, A US embassy press release yesterday said Bangladesh officials have asked for FBI assistance in investigating the attack and the US government is considering this request.

"No decision on this request has been made," it said.

The release also said that the Interpol team including an FBI agent is in Dhaka as part of the ongoing investigation into the August 21 grenade attacks.

Meantime, Foreign Secretary Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury told a press briefing yesterday: "We are yet to get any response from the US government."

US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Christina Rocca in a meeting with Foreign Minister M Morshed Khan on Sunday said for FBI's help to be meaningful they (US) would want full access to all evidence and witnesses.

The foreign minister on Monday said, "If the FBI is sent by the US government, the terms of reference would be decided by the FBI and the home ministry."

About the terms of reference for FBI consultants as reported in the media, Foreign Secretary Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury yesterday said, "we were not officially communicated about it."

Meanwhile, members of local intelligence agencies yesterday briefed the visiting Interpol team, on the latest development in the August 21 grenade carnage investigations, said a top Criminal Investigation Department official seeking anonymity. He said other similar incidents were also discussed in the Interpol team's meeting with CID officials yesterday.

Interpol officials, Japanese Hiroshi Sumi and US citizen Marc Beauchemin, at about 2:30pm yesterday visited Bangabandhu Avenue, the scene of the August 21 grenade blasts that killed 23 people. They spent about seven minutes there.

Sources said the two Interpol personnel, who arrived in Dhaka on Monday, are assigned only to assess expertise and logistics required to properly investigate the August 21 incident. Their visit was scheduled eight weeks ago.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ashraful Huda told a private TV channel yesterday that the two Interpol members would not visit Habiganj this time.

They might visit Habiganj later if the government seek their assistance in probing the Habiganj carnage.

The Interpol team is likely to meet the IGP today at the police headquarters.