The recent agitation by Ganajagaran Mancha near the Pakistan High Commission has created a security flutter among ambassadors and high commissioners based in Dhaka.
Diplomats from influential countries expressed concern over the security of their missions and personnel during a briefing by foreign minister AH Mahmood Ali on Tuesday morning. They also urged the government to tighten security in the diplomatic enclave and ensure safety of mission personnel stationed across Bangladesh. The foreign minister held two separate briefings on the prevailing situation in the country at the state guest house, Padma. In the morning, he briefed ambassadors and high commissioners of the United States, Canada, Australia, China, Japan, South Korea, Brazil, Russia, Norway, Holy See and the UN resident coordinator. He met envoys from OIC countries in the afternoon.
A foreign ministry official present during the morning briefing said the ambassadors from the US, Japan, South Korea, Brazil and Norway, and the high commissioners from Canada and Australia “mainly talked about the security of the diplomatic enclave and their personnel”. None of the envoys discussed issues relating to the upcoming election and observers, he added.
According to sources, the South Korean ambassador mentioned two recent incidents involving two of its nationals. One of them was kidnapped and beaten up before being released, while the other one was mugged.
The Brazilian ambassador pointed out that smaller missions did not get police escorts or additional security and called for police escort for all for safe movement.
The Norwegian envoy mentioned that as Oslo had a small mission here in Bangladesh, it would not be possible to address any large scale trouble with the limited security.
The foreign minister assured the diplomats that following the processions by Ganajagaran Mancha, security in the diplomatic enclave was enhanced and every possible step would be taken to ensure the safety of the missions and their personnel.
The Canadian high commissioner wanted to know about the recent statements by government functionaries about the 10th parliamentary election.
During the briefing for the envoys of OIC countries, Palestinian ambassador and dean of the diplomatic corps said they wanted peace, stability and development of Bangladesh.
According to a foreign ministry press release, the foreign minister categorically assured all ambassadors and high commissioners that the all-party-election-time government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has remained uncompromising and pledge-bound as per the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961, to ensure full safety and security of the diplomatic missions in Bangladesh as well as their residences, schools and cultural centres stationed in Bangladesh during these critical period preceding the elections.
He apprised the heads of missions of the enhanced security measures recently undertaken in the designated diplomatic areas of Gulshan and Baridhara.
“The all-party-election-time government, led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, is determined to thwart any threat to the security and stability of the state and the people of Bangladesh and attempts to deprive the electorate from exercising their democratic right to vote during the forthcoming 10th parliamentary election scheduled for January 2014,” said the release, quoting the Minister.
-With The Independent input
