US Ambassador to Bangladesh Marcia Bernicat Tuesday assured the civil aviation and tourism minister that the proposal for upgrading Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to Category-1 status will be placed before the next Ticfa meeting to be held on November 23. She also suggested stepping up the airport security of the country and assured of support in strengthening the airport security system here. The US will work together with Bangladesh in countering violent extremism challenge that many other countries including Bangladesh have been facing, she added. Ms Bernicat gave assurance when she met with Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon at the Bangladesh Secretariat. During the meeting, Mr. Menon observed that the US never issued travel advice during political violence created by the opposition parties in 2014 and 2015. The US issued travel advice on the election day on 05 January, 2014. But the country is issuing red alert even on isolated incidents now. The minister also raised the issue of upgrading the HSIA into category-1 status and informed the envoy that the government has been enacting necessary laws and making recruitment of adequate manpower to achieve the target. India has already got category-1 status on assurance of amending its laws to get the status. Ms Bernicat conveyed the minister to the United States’ continued support for his efforts to enhance aviation security and her appreciation for the steps the government of Bangladesh has taken to improve overall security of foreigners. In addition, Ambassador Bernicat underscored that a strong US-Bangladesh relationship benefits the people of the United States and Bangladesh and promotes regional and global security. She told the minister that she had reviewed how Bangladesh, like so many countries, including the United States, faces the challenge of violent extremism. “The US will continue to walk side by side with Bangladesh on its path to a better future, a future of impressive economic growth in an environment of stability.”
