He made the comment while talking to reporters after a farewell meeting with Finance and Planning Minister M Saifur Rahman at his secretariat office.

The minister however rejected Thomas's remark and said the journalists of the country are enjoying much freedom except some isolated incidents.

"The dangerous place for journalists may be South America, surely not Bangladesh," Saifur told reporters at his office after the meeting.

Thomas also said democracy would be jeopardised if press freedom was not ensured.

The US envoy said the prevailing US-Bangladesh relations are very well and will be brighter in the coming days.

Thomas lauded the Bangladesh finance minister and said Saifur is a visionary finance minister and Bangladesh has developed much on its economic front under his leadership.

On the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA), a new debt programme of the US, Thomas could not say anything for sure. But he said discussions are going on.

Asked about it, Saifur said the government is now discussing the issue with the US authorities and it has progressed much. "The release of this fund depends on some indicators," he said without mentioning any of them.

Appreciating the US ambassador, Saifur said Thomas was a popular ambassador and had become a friend of Bangladesh during his stay in the last two years.

The minister said he does not know where Thomas is going to be placed. "I have learnt he will be working with Condoleezza Rice in the State Department."

Saifur hoped Thomas could help Bangladesh more from his new position.