JICA still concerned over security for projects

Anxiety is still simmering among officials of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), though some five months have passed since the terrorist attack at Gulshan on July 1. As a result, implementation of 18 JICA-funded projects is being affected. 
Japanese experts are working in Dhaka, but they do not go to project sites since a code of conduct of JICA on security issues is in force. 
This was learnt from the review meeting on JICA-funded projects, held recently at the Economic Relations Division (ERD), and chaired by the ERD’s additional secretary, Shah Amin Haque. 
Sources who attended the meeting said JICA iterated that its officials would not go to the project sites until the security there was satisfactory. Senior officials of implementing agencies, project directors and representatives from the Japanese embassy and JICA were present at the meeting.
JICA directly stated that its officials would not visit the project sites until the security situation at the sites improved.
An official who attended in the meeting said JICA expressed satisfaction over security arrangements for only a single project.
The government adopted the necessary security measures in all JICA-funded projects after the militant attack on Holey Artisan Bakery in Gulshan, in which seven Japanese engineers and consultants were killed. They were involved in development projects which JICA is implementing in Bangladesh. 
JICA appointed a consulting firm for the Matarbari ultra super-critical coal-fired power plant. But the officials of the consulting firm do not go to the project site in Moheskhali (in Cox’s Bazar). Besides, the Finance Division has refused consent to procure vehicles though the project site is situated in a remote area. Again, Bangladesh Bank is delaying payment of the consulting fee. On the other hand, the schedule for a mission to conduct a feasibility study on the project has been changed. 
The project director of the Matarbari power plant said a total of 20 policemen, 63 armed Ansars, 20 Battalion Ansars, and seven Coast Guards have been deployed. He said they will also beef up manpower for security, and are corresponding with the home ministry in this respect. 
A total of 30 armed policemen has been deployed at the Bheramara combined cycle power plant and officials of the bidding entity and consulting firm are working at the project site. All necessary closed-circuit cameras have been set up to ensure security. 

Some 12 Ansars have been deployed at the depot area of the metro rail project at Uttara in the city. A steel wall boundary is being set up to ensure security. The implementing agency also urged the home ministry to deploy 40 more Ansar battalions.  
Besides, security measures have been put in place at the office of the consulting firm at Gulshan and residences of its officials in Uttara. Similar security measures have been adopted for other JICA-funded projects, the review meeting was informed. The government has deployed extra police personnel and set up CC cameras and built security boundary walls at the project sites.

JICA still concerned over security for projects

Anxiety is still simmering among officials of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), though some five months have passed since the terrorist attack at Gulshan on July 1. As a result, implementation of 18 JICA-funded projects is being affected. Japanese experts are working in Dhaka, but they do not go to project sites since a code of conduct of JICA on security issues is in force. This was learnt from the review meeting on JICA-funded projects, held recently at the Economic Relations Division (ERD), and chaired by the ERDs additional secretary, Shah Amin Haque. Sources who attended the meeting said JICA iterated that its officials would not go to the project sites until the security there was satisfactory. Senior officials of implementing agencies, project directors and representatives from the Japanese embassy and JICA were present at the meeting. JICA directly stated that its officials would not visit the project sites until the security situation at the sites improved. An official who attended in the meeting said JICA expressed satisfaction over security arrangements for only a single project. The government adopted the necessary security measures in all JICA-funded projects after the militant attack on Holey Artisan Bakery in Gulshan, in which seven Japanese engineers and consultants were killed. They were involved in development projects which JICA is implementing in Bangladesh. JICA appointed a consulting firm for the Matarbari ultra super-critical coal-fired power plant. But the officials of the consulting firm do not go to the project site in Moheskhali (in Coxs Bazar). Besides, the Finance Division has refused consent to procure vehicles though the project site is situated in a remote area. Again, Bangladesh Bank is delaying payment of the consulting fee. On the other hand, the schedule for a mission to conduct a feasibility study on the project has been changed. The project director of the Matarbari power plant said a total of 20 policemen, 63 armed Ansars, 20 Battalion Ansars, and seven Coast Guards have been deployed. He said they will also beef up manpower for security, and are corresponding with the home ministry in this respect. A total of 30 armed policemen has been deployed at the Bheramara combined cycle power plant andofficials of the bidding entity and consulting firm are working at the project site. All necessary closed-circuit cameras have been set up to ensure security. Some 12 Ansars have been deployed at the depot area of the metro rail project at Uttara in the city. A steel wall boundary is being set up to ensure security. The implementing agency also urged the home ministry to deploy 40 more Ansar battalions. Besides, security measures have been put in place at the office of the consulting firm at Gulshan and residences of its officials in Uttara. Similar security measures have been adopted for other JICA-funded projects, the review meeting was informed. The government has deployed extra police personnel and set up CC cameras and built security boundary walls at the project sites.