Dhaka – A senior official of the US state department is expected to visit Bangladesh Sunday to weigh the security situation in the South Asian country battered by two terrorist attacks in a week.

Assistant Secretary of the State Nisah Desai Biswal, scheduled to arrive in Dhaka Sunday, will hold meetings with senior Bangladeshi officials as the US offered assistance in combating terrorism.

Security and counterterrorism partnership are expected to dominate the discussion during her visit, an official said adding the US official is likely to hold meeting with Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan and Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali.

Biswal will be in Dhaka on a two-day visit, diplomatic sources said.

Biswal, earlier, visited Dhaka in May after the brutal killing of two gay rights activists, including a USAID official Xulhas Mannan, by suspected Islamist militants in April this year.

Bangladesh experienced the deadliest terrorist attack on July 1 when five gunmen, claimed to be the members of the Islamic State group, killed 20 civilians, including 18 foreign nationals, and two other security officials at a restaurant in Dhaka’s Gulshan diplomatic district.

The attackers were killed during an army-led raid.

Another group of armed assailants attacked a security checkpoint outside a congregation venue for eid prayers at Sholakia of northern Kishoreganj district leaving two policemen and a woman killed. One of the assailants was also killed in the fire-fight.

United States has cautiously been weighing situation in Bangladesh as the State Department issued travel alert for its citizens in Bangladesh asking them remain alert.

Two days after the July 1 attack, US Secretary of State John Kerry phoned Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to convey condolence by President Barack Obama. He also offered counterterrorism assistance for Bangladesh.

He suggested Bangladesh to conduct investigation in accordance with the highest international standards.

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