Security ensured for all foreigners: Govt
Envoys concerned over security
Govt briefing for diplomats
DIPLOMATIC CORRESPONDENT
Diplomats stationed in Dhaka yesterday expressed concern over their security on the back drop of the recent killings of two foreign nationals in the country. They also made it clear that the foreign entrepreneurs doing businesses here also were gripped by a sense of insecurity following the recent incidents. Their observations came at a briefing jointly organised at the state guest house Padma by the ministries of home and foreign affairs for the heads of diplomatic missions stationed in Dhaka.
Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali and Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal jointly conducted the briefing that was attended by ambassadors, high commissioners, and Charge dAffairs of different foreign missions in Bangladesh.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam, the home secretary, foreign secretary, inspector general of police, director general of Rapid Action Battalion, Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner were also present.
The diplomats thanked the government for the heightened security measures taken around the country, and requested for expediting the investigations into the two murders to identify those responsible for the crimes, according to a foreign ministry press release.
Several other envoys thanked the government for the briefing and assured of necessary cooperation to the government in combating terrorist acts, including such crimes targeting foreign nationals, and any possible link with foreign terrorist elements, it said.
At the briefing, the foreign minister and the home minister assured the diplomats that the government is doing and will do all it can to ensure safety and security to the foreigners living in the country.
Emerging from the briefing, Foreign Minister Mahmood Ali told reporters that information regarding security threat prior to the killing of the Italian citizen was shared with the Bangladesh authorities.
To a question, he hoped that following the measures taken by the government, the situation will be improved within the next few days and the travel alerts issued by different countries will be relaxed.
British High Commissioner Robert Gibson, also the dean of the Diplomatic Corps, told reporters that they were told that no stone would be left unturned with regard to investigating the killings of the two foreign nationals.
At the briefing, Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Masato Watanabe expressed his countrys willingness to work with Dhaka to improve the security image of the country that has come under international scrutiny following the killings of two foreigners including one Japanese national.
The Japanese ambassador also expressed gratitude for all the support and cooperation extended by the Bangladesh government after the incident, said the release.
Italian Ambassador Mario Palma, who was also present, did not speak at the briefing, said the meeting sources.
Apart from the Japanese envoy, sources said, United States Ambassador Marcia Bernicat, British High Commissioner Robert Gibson, European Union Ambassador Pierre Pierre Mayaudon, and Russian Ambassador Alexander Nikolaev spoke at the briefing to raise different aspects.
EU Ambassador Mayaudon said foreign businessmen are concerned regarding the security situation and this needs to be addressed for the sake of interests of both foreign and Bangladesh businesses, said the sources.
About the mood of the briefing, the sources described it as positive and said that the diplomats expressed their security concerns while the Bangladeshi ministers asserted that all possible measures were taken to deal with the situation and would be taken when needed.
They (diplomats) were not attacking and our side was assuring, said a senior foreign ministry official.
US Ambassador Bernicat said Washington is verifying the claims of Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) that it has committed these crimes, said the sources.
British High Commissioner Gibson, on behalf of the Diplomatic Corps, expressed concerns and shed lights on different aspects of the situation including the safety of the foreign nationals living in Bangladesh, they said.
Russian Ambassador Nikolaev mentioned the killing of former Power Development Board Chairman Khizir Khan and the attempt on life of a priest in Pabna, and wanted to know if there are links between these developments with the killings of the two foreigners, according to sources.
The foreign minister asked the diplomats to come up with suggestions to enhance security, but none of the diplomats said anything, sources added.
The ministers mourned the death of the two foreigners and expressed their condolences for the members of the bereaved families, according to the press release.
The diplomatic community was briefed about the enhanced surveillance measures taken all over the country to ensure adequate security coverage for foreign nationals.
The ministers informed them that the law and order situation across the country remained stable, and that the local administrations have been put on high alert to respond to any untoward situation concerning foreign nationals. They assured the envoys of all kinds of support to ensure the safety and security of foreign nationals living in Bangladesh.
The foreign minister said it was regrettable that when Bangladesh is being globally lauded for its impressive socio-economic development, as have been seen in the United Nations last week, certain quarters were once again making efforts to create a sense of a destabilising situation to discredit Bangladesh and its government and people.
Referring to the Global Law and Order Report 2015, recently released by Gallup, the foreign minister commented that Bangladesh fared much better compared to many neighbouring countries in terms of peoples perception of personal security and law and order situation.
Considering that, in his view, it would be rather unjustified to project a couple of criminal incidents as general breakdown in the law and order situation in the country, the minister added.
The home minister, meanwhile, shared the status of investigations into the two murder cases and reaffirmed the governments resolve to find out the real motives and to bring the perpetrators to justice.
He also informed the diplomatic community of various steps taken by the government to ensure safety and security of the foreign nationals living in the country. He particularly mentioned about the beefed up security in and around the diplomatic zone.
Both the ministers reiterated Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinas zero tolerance approach to all forms of terrorism and violent extremism. They informed that the government took note of the reported claims of responsibility by a certain international terrorist organisation for these murders, and that the intelligence and law enforcement authorities were looking into such reported claims.
The ministers thanked the diplomats for their understanding, and requested for continuing with the regular engagements, including in the business, tourism and sports sectors. They stressed that the government would not allow any quarters to create instability in the country under any pretext, and thus undermine Bangladeshs valued tradition of hospitality to foreigners.
