04 June 2004	Friday	15 Rabi-us-Saani 1425

DHAKA, June 3: US Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld will arrive in Dhaka on Saturday on a two-day visit, first by an American defence minister, to Bangladesh, Foreign Ministry officials said here on Thursday.

Political parties _ both left-leaning and religious _ and student organizations have threatened to stage demonstrations in the capital against Mr Rumsfeld's visit which, according to sources, aims at asking Bangladesh to contribute troops to Iraq.

The brief stay is part of a hectic Asian visit by Mr Rumsfeld that includes Singapore, where he is scheduled to attend a three-day Asian security conference. During his stay in Bangladesh, Mr Rumsfeld, heading a 42-member delegation, will hold talks with Foreign Minister M. Morshed Khan. He will also call on Prime Minister Khaleda Zia.

Mr Rumsfeld's upcoming visit has been criticized by Bangladesh's leftwing and Islamic groups for his role in the invasion and occupation of Iraq. Meanwhile, a "demand of justice notice" was issued on the government on Thursday, asking it not to enter into any contract with the United States on sending Bangladeshi troops to Iraq without any UN resolution and approval of the parliament.