Judith Chammas, who now heads the US embassy in Dhaka, made these remarks emerging from a meeting with Foreign Minister M Morshed Khan at his office.

Chammas said they discussed the possibility of US assistance in the investigation of the August 17 bombings. "It is a very serious situation and I believe the Bangladesh government should address it in a serious way," she added.

When asked if the US would send FBI agents to investigate the bomb incidents following Bangladesh's request, she said, "We discussed possible ways of providing assistance…we talked about how we could be helpful."

However, she did not say if any FBI agents would participate in the investigation or mention any possible time of their arrival here.

Asked about foreign investment, Chammas said she had read stories about overseas buyers having cancelled their trips to Dhaka following the blasts. "But I don't have any specific information about that."

The US envoy said she was informed by the Foreign Minister that the investigation into the August 17 blasts is going on.

On Bangladesh's aid for hurricane victims in the USA, the envoy said the US government highly appreciates the Bangladesh government for the million-dollar donation in assistance in the aftermath of hurricane Katrina, which devastated the three states of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.

She said they also discussed Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's forthcoming visit to the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, beginning September 14.

Asked about a possible meeting between President Bush and Khaleda Zia during the UNGA, she said, "I don't believe any bilateral meeting will be held."

"I don't have any comment," she said when a reporter asked about US views on BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Tarique Rahman's remarks about a possible international connection behind the August 17 bomb blasts.