January 3, 2002	Thursday	Shawwal 18, 1422

DHAKA, Jan 2: British Prime Minister Tony Blair is due here on Thursday apparently to request Bangladesh to contribute its troops for Afghanistan.

Blair has been canvassing support from ‘‘moderate’’ Muslim countries to contribute troops to what is known as the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) for maintaining peace in Afghanistan.

Britain heads the ISAF under a UN Security Council resolution passed last month.

Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia will receive the dignitary on arrival, but is unlikely to see him off as she is scheduled to leave for Katmandu on Friday.

According to reports, if Dhaka accedes to the British request, its soldiers will be charged with creating a ‘‘peace shield’’ in and around Kabul.