During her meeting with Khaleda, Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga reconfirmed her participation in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) summit scheduled to be held in Dhaka in November.

Kumaratunga thanked Khaleda for Bangladesh's assistance after the tsumani in her country.

They also discussed strengthening of the United Nations.

The Lankan president told the prime minister that her country would field a candidate for the post of UN secretary general to be vacant in December next year.

Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and Khaleda discussed the progress of implementation of the agreement to transfer the management of Chittagong Shah Amanat International Airport to the Thai authorities.

Shinawatra apprised Khaleda of his country's preparedness against tsunami and said a tsunami task fund has been formed there.

Referring to the establishment of the Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre (ADPC) in Thailand, he said it will also help Bangladesh receive early warnings of disaster.

While discussing strengthening of the UN, the Thai premier informed the Bangladesh prime minister that his country would nominate a candidate for the post of UN secretary general.

During his meeting with Khaleda, Mozambique President Armando Emilo Guebuza appreciated Bangladesh's expertise in disaster management and expressed keenness to get people concerned of his country trained in Bangladesh to share the expertise.

He also showed interest in micro credit system in Bangladesh. Khaleda invited him to visit Bangladesh.

Meanwhile, US Congressman Joseph Crowley, the Democratic Co-chairman of the Congressional Bangladesh Caucus, called on the prime minister at her suite in Grand Hyatt Hotel here Friday evening.

Crowley thanked the prime minister for providing $1million assistance for the victims of hurricane Katrina in the Gulf coast of the USA.

He said Bangladesh responded more quickly even than the US government because of Khaleda government's long experience in handling such disasters.

Crowley, however, said the passage of the proposed trade act to provide duty-free access of Bangladeshi readymade garments to the US market might be delayed because of hurricane Katrina.

The US congressman expressed satisfaction over the measures taken by the Bangladesh government against terrorism.

Crowley informed the prime minister that Bangladesh Caucus has become stronger with the increase in the total number of its members to 28 from 22, and the joining of Republican Congressman Peter King, who is also Chairman of the Homeland Security Emergency Preparedness Committee.