Dhaka, May 12 (IANS) US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs Christina Rocca is in Bangladesh on a two-day visit during which she is expected to discuss a wide range of issues such as religious fundamentalism and trade with Dhaka.

Rocca, who arrived Wednesday night, is here after visiting Nepal as part of a South Asia tour. She is calling on Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, Foreign Minister M. Morshed Khan, opposition leader Sheikh Hasina and other senior government officials Thursday.

Sources in the foreign affairs ministry said Rocca would discuss steps taken by the Bangladeshi government to tackle terrorism and fundamentalism.

They said Bangladesh would bring up with Rocca the issue of quota-free access of its products to the United States.

Her visit to Dhaka is the first high-level tour from the United States after President George W. Bush was elected for a second term. She had visited Bangladesh months before the US presidential elections in 2004.

Indo-Asian News Service