US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard today said the situation in Bangladesh is a "major area of concern" for the United States, citing the persecution of religious minorities.

In an interview with NDTV World, when asked about the situation in Bangladesh, she said, "The long-time unfortunate persecution, killing, and abuse of religious minorities—Hindus, Buddhists, Christians, Catholics, and others—have been a major area of concern for the US government, President Trump and his administration."

"The talks are just beginning between President Trump's new cabinet coming in and the Government of Bangladesh but this continues to remain a central focus area of concern," she said.

Then she remarked, "The threat of Islamist terrorists, and their overall effort, the global effort of all of these different groups, are rooted in the same ideology and objective — which is to rule or govern with an Islamist Caliphate.

"This obviously affects people of any other religion, other than the one that they find acceptable, and they chose to carry this out with terror and very violent ways and means."
She further said, "President Trump remains committed to identifying the ideology that drives Islamist terrorism, and working to defeat this ideology and their ability to exact that terror on people, the American people and others."
Gabbard's remarks came a day after she, along with Britain's National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell and New Zealand's intelligence chief Andrew Hampton, attended a security conference in New Delhi.

The event was hosted by India's National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, along with RAW chief Ravi Sinha and Intelligence Bureau chief Tapan Deka.
Gabbard is the first senior-level official from the Donald Trump administration to visit India during the US President's second term which began on January 20.
Part of a broader tour which will also take her to Japan, Thailand and France, Gabbard is scheduled to speak on the second day of the Raisina Dialogue, a flagship multilateral conference held annually by the Indian External Affairs Ministry in New Delhi.