She has a wide range of issues to discuss with Bangladesh on her agenda including the critical issues of counter-terrorism and the next general elections.

A highly placed source at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Rocca is expected to carry a US government letter to Bangladesh appreciating Bangladesh's anti-militancy crackdown as well as the banning of militant organisations like Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB).

The source said Rocca is likely to have talks with government and political leaders on a broad range of issues, including counter-terrorism cooperation, next general election, corruption, human rights and good governance.

During her three-day stay here, Rocca will call on Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and hold talks with Foreign Minister M Morshed Khan and State Minister for Home Affairs Lutfozzaman Babar. She is set to depart on January 28 afternoon.

She is also expected to meet Leader of the Opposition and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina. The source said Rocca has expressed desire to meet some other top-level officials during her stay in Dhaka.

A high official of the foreign ministry told The Daily Star that a number of countries, including US has praised Bangladesh government's anti-militancy crackdown in the recent months.

He said the US government expressed its desire to extend all-out assistance to Bangladesh in curbing terrorism and enhancing the capability of law enforcers in Bangladesh to fight terrorism.

An official of the US embassy in Dhaka, while talking to The Daily Star, said the US-Bangladesh relations are excellent. The relationship was boosted in March 2000 when President Clinton visited Bangladesh, the first visit ever by a US president, and when Secretary of State Colin Powell visited in June 2003, as well as when Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld visited in June 2004. Senior officials from the State Department regularly visit Bangladesh, the official added.

He said Bangladesh has become a valuable US ally in the global war on terrorism recently. As part of the war effort, Bangladesh has publicly addressed problems of money laundering, weak border controls, and other factors to ensure that Bangladesh does not become a terrorist safe-haven.

This will be Rocca's 4th visit to Bangladesh since her appointment in 2001 and her last visit to Dhaka was on May 11-12 last year.