The Gulshan terror attack has triggered panic among foreigners in Bangladesh, casting a shadow on ongoing development projects here. Sources said a group of foreign engineers, including five Spaniards working with the Siddhirganj 335MW power plant project, left the country yesterday.
The engineers, who were engaged as consultants, left without any notice to the state-run Electricity Generation Company of Bangladesh (EGCB). Last October, the project had witnessed a similar exodus with 41 foreign nationals leaving the country due to security reasons after the killing of foreigners in Bangladesh.
The state minister for power and energy, Nasrul Hamid, admitted to the problem, but refused to discuss the crisis with this correspondent.
Meanwhile, Power Development Board (PDB) and EGCB officials told The Independent that all the foreigners were on leave because of the Eid holidays. They, however, admitted that some Spanish engineers had already left the country without any notice.
“They were supposed to inform us officially, but they did not do so. We hope they will be back on July 12,” an EGCB official said.
Spanish company Isolux was assigned to build the Siddhirganj power plant, which is supposed to be commissioned next month.
According to officials, panic-stricken Spanish engineers had brought in a security expert from their country to assess the situation at the project site on Sunday. The officials had assured the Spanish expert and engineers of taking all security-related steps.
A PDB official said they have sounded a red alert at all power stations and increased security measures after the Gulshan attack. They have even instructed the authorities to double the number of security guards at the homes of the engineers. At present, more than 60
foreigners are working in several power plants in the country. Besides engineers, the terror strike may also see an exodus by foreign aid agencies. The Wall Street Journal has reported that Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) may withdraw from Bangladesh after seven Japanese workers were killed in the attack on Friday.
This would be a big blow to the country as JICA is involved in dozens of projects, including building of bridges, roads and railways, and improving water and sanitation systems.
The seven Japanese who were confirmed dead included three engineers sent by Oriental Consultants Global Co and another from Katahira & Engineers International. Both firms are based in Tokyo.
One Japanese person was rescued from the cafe where the attack took place, officials said.
“All of the victims had been in Bangladesh and were eager to help the country,” Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told reporters on Sunday. “This is a matter of the greatest regret,” he added.
He has also assured Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina that Japan will stand by Bangladesh.
Sources, however, said JICA will probably suspend operations for the time being. They did the same in Afghanistan in the past. But the Japanese government has not yet taken a final decision.
JICA president Shinichi Kitaoka reportedly said those dispatched to Bangladesh had been advised to remain extra vigilant after a Japanese citizen was killed in the country’s northern region in October last year.
According to JICA’s latest annual report, Japan had spent USD 479 million as aid and grants on Bangladeshi projects between April 2014 and March 2015.