Dan Mozena, the United States Ambassador to Dhaka, held a meeting with Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali on Wednesday to discuss issues with regards to the security of the US embassy as well its personnel. During the meeting the US envoy had voiced his deep concern over the security of the embassy and its staffs and requested the minister to take appropriate measures to ensure the security, sources said.
In reply, the Foreign Minister assured Mozena of doing everything possible to make sure that the US embassy as well as other diplomatic missions and their personnel were safe and secured.
“They (the minister and the ambassador) discussed issues related to security of diplomatic missions,” Kelly McCarthy, the spokesperson of the US embassy, told The Independent in an email communication on Wednesday evening.
On Tuesday, the external publicity of the foreign ministry informed journalists covering the ministry that the meeting between Ali and Mozena would take place at the foreign minister’s office at 12:30pm. Later, it was learnt that the meeting was rescheduled at 2:00pm at the state guest house Padma. But, the media were not notified about the change of time and venue.
On the change of time and venue, sources at the ministry told The Independent that the change had been made at the desire of the foreign minister apparently to avoid media.
Following the meeting, Ambassador Mozena left the state guest house without talking to waiting media people. There have not also been any official comments on behalf of the foreign ministry about the meeting.
At the meeting, the sources said, the US Ambassador mentioned some of the recent activities including demonstrations and troubles around the embassy.
The meeting also touched upon the prevailing political situation in the country and other bilateral issues including Trade and Investment Forum Agreement (TICFA).
It may be mentioned that Ambassador Mozena had a meeting with Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque on Tuesday to express his deep concern over the security of the embassy and its personnel.
-With The Independent input
