US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs Christina Rocca, who will arrive in Dhaka on January 26 carrying a letter of President Bush, will sit with the government officials and discuss the modalities of the proposed bureau, a foreign ministry official told the news agency yesterday.

"Modalities of the proposed counter-terrorism bureau will be discussed during Rocca's upcoming visit," said the official who asked not to be named under the briefing rule.

He said the proposed institutional cooperation on counter-terrorism might take place either at the military intelligence level or national security intelligence level between the two countries following the model of US-India and US-Pakistan Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism.

Asked how Washington would extend cooperation to enhance Dhaka's counter-terrorism capability, the official said, "We will discuss the area of cooperation and how the US can help us in terms of financial, expertise or logistic supports."

Rocca will hold discussions with Foreign Minister M Morshed Khan, State Minister for Home Affairs Luthfozzaman Babar, Foreign Secretary Hemayetuddin and senior officials of the home ministry on January 26.

"The discussion will focus on modalities of US cooperation in the field of counter-terrorism," the official said. He, however, could not say if Dhaka and Washington would sign any protocol during Rocca's visit.

On the same day, Rocca will call on Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and hand over President Bush's letter to her. There are indications that the US President will appreciate the government's anti-militancy crackdown and give US assurance of support in combating terrorism.

In reply to a question, the official hinted that counter-terrorism cooperation may take place in the form of exchange of intelligence information about terrorists, special training of law enforcers and military personnel, forensic cooperation, technological support for border administration to stop terrorist movement and legal cooperation in halting terrorist financing.

During the previous visit of Rocca in May 2004, the home ministry and the US government had signed a MoU for better management of Bangladesh's border by installing technology at entry points to help screening any potential terrorists entering the country.

US first mooted the proposal for institutional cooperation like joint working group by State Department Counter-Terrorism Coordinator Ambassador J Cofer Black during a meeting with Foreign Minister Morshed Khan in Dhaka on September 5, 2004.

The proposal came on the heels of the grenade attacks on opposition leader Sheikh Hasina's rally at Bangabandhu Avenue on August 21, 2004, leaving 22 people, including AL leader Ivy Rahman, dead

In response to Black's proposal, Morshed was learnt to have expressed Bangladesh's willingness to sign a protocol with the US to enhance Dhaka's capability in tackling religious extremists and regional and international terrorists.

The issue was again raised and discussed when Morshed Khan met US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice at State Department in Washington on May 19, 2005.

The official said presently, Dhaka and Washington have close relations and active anti-terrorism programme under which US military is providing training to Bangladesh military and police personnel to combat terrorism.

The United States has got similar cooperation with India and Pakistan in the form of Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism. US-India Joint Working Group was set up in January 2000 while US-Pakistan Joint Working Group was established during President Pervez Musharraf's visit to Washington in February 2002.