The assurance came during a meeting between Foreign Secretary Hemayetuddin and US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Richard Boucher at the state guesthouse Padma.

"We've excellent bilateral relations...we discussed a number of things regarding our bilateral ties," Boucher told reporters after nearly 45-minute meeting.

In his brief remarks, he said the US supports free, fair and non-violent elections in Bangladesh.

Briefing newsmen, Foreign Secretary Hemayetuddin said the US attaches strategic and political importance to Bangladesh being a major democracy, highest contributor to UN peacekeeping missions and an active partner of war on terror.

He said Boucher assured cooperation in expanding bilateral trade, access of Bangladeshi products to American market and logistic support to enhance capacity in countering terrorism.

Boucher expressed satisfaction over the growing relations between Dhaka and Washington and Bangladesh's commitment to fight against terrorism, Hemayet said.

About coming general elections, he said Washington likes to see free, fair and non-violent elections with participation of all political parties.

Additional Foreign Secretary Touhid Hossain and US Ambassador Patricia A Butenis were present in the meeting.