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DHAKA, Jan 16 (AFP) - Bangladesh said Thursday that some of its nationals in the United States would soon be required to register with authorities, calling the new rule "unfortunate."

Foreign Secretary Shamser Mobin Chowdhury said Bangladesh would appear on a new list of countries whose nationals are subject to greater scrutiny, along with Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan and Kuwait.

Nationals of 20 other countries deemed high risks for terrorism -- all of them predominantly Muslim except North Korea -- have already been targetted.

Under the earlier announced rules, men from these countries who are in the United States and do not have resident status must appear before authorities to be photographed, questioned and fingerprinted.

"It is unfortunate that Bangladesh is in the list and we hope it is a temporary measure and its impact will be limited in scope and form," Chowdhury told reporters.

"Our credentials as a moderate, tolerant and a practicing democracy have been very clearly established," he said.

The new rules were designed in the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States, carried out by 19 foreign hijackers.

Chowdhury said Bangladesh has protested to the United States about its inclusion on the immigration watch list.

Bangladesh, the world's third largest Muslim-majority country, pledged support to the US-led "war on terrorism" immediately after the attacks.

"Bangladesh is committed to fight international terrorism in any form and anywhere and there is no scope for any doubt that Bangladesh abhors terrorism," he said.

Chowdhury played down any negative impact on relations between Bangladesh and the United States.

"Our relations with the United States are multifaceted and broad-based," he said.

"We are committed to pursue and deepen that relationship further in the interest of the people of Bangladesh, many of whom live there or have business with the US," he said.

A number of countries affected by the new immigration rules have lodged protests with the United States.

Amnesty International has also expressed concern after a number of Middle Eastern and Muslim men and boys were detained for visa irregularities when they came voluntarily to register. 

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