January 17, 2003	Friday	Ziqa'ad 13, 1423

DHAKA, Jan 16: The Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh, Shamser Mobin Chowdhury, told journalists here on Thursday, that it was “unfortunate” that some of its nationals in the US would soon be required to register.

“It is unfortunate that Bangladesh is on the list and we hope it is a temporary measure and its impact will be limited in scope and form,” Bangladesh’s Foreign Secretary said. “Our credentials as a moderate, tolerant and practising democracy have been very clearly established.”

He also told journalists that the government has already protested to the US about its inclusion on the immigration watch list.

Meanwhile, the US ambassador to Dhaka, Mary Ann Peters, said, “The inclusion of Bangladesh in this programme does not in anyway signal a change in the US view that Bangladesh has been and continues to be a staunch member of the international coalition against terrorism,” she said in a statement.