Security of diplomatic zones in city beefed up

Security measures have been beefed up in the diplomatic enclaves at Gulshan, Banani and Baridhara in the city, following threats issued to the US, UK, Australian and Canadian embassies in Dhaka reportedly by an overseas militant organisation on Thursday.
Four separate messages of the threats were faxed to the embassies in Dhaka by a militant organisation Jamia Islamia Al Qaida from Malaysia, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) commissioner AKM Shahidul Huq said yesterday.
“The same message was sent to each of the four embassies by a fax, code of which is 603,” he said, adding that in the message the militant organisation asked the authorities to stop their activities otherwise they would carry out attack on the embassies.
He said, “The militant organisation also mentioned in the message that one of their member, who is an engineer, is now in custody of the Malaysian government and they need one lakh dollar to set him free from the custody. The militants had demanded the one lakh dollar from the embassies.”
Replying to a query he said, “We took it seriously and decided to inform the government of the matter. The government thorough foreign ministry will contact with the Malaysian government to know whether there was any base of such organisation (Jamia Islamia Al Qaida) in Malaysia or not.
 “Following the threats, security measures have been beefed up in the diplomatic zone in the city,” he said, adding, “We have directed our men to be on alert to the maximum and take all necessary actions against any attempt of criminal activities.”
 Dhaka Metropolitan Police sources said, additional measures have been taken in and around the diplomatic zones in the city to prevent any attack and to ensure full proof security measures.
Officer-in-Charge of the Gulshan police station Kamrul Islam said yesterday, “We have deployed additional forces and strengthened patrolling, vigilance and surveillance in diplomatic zones for ensuring security of the diplomatic enclaves.”
Earlier a month ago, a banned Islamic outfit Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) issued threat to the United Nations International Cultural and Education Fund (UNICEF) and Red Crescent to carry out bomb attack on their offices in Barisal district, if they do not stop their activities in the country.
UNB adds: State Minister for Home Affairs Tanjim Ahmed Sohel Taj told the news agency Friday evening that the government takes very seriously any kind of threat on the interests of the foreign missions and international agencies in Bangladesh.
“Massive security steps have been taken,” he said, adding “we’ll not allow any threat on the missions of our friendly countries in our soil.”
The State Minister said different intelligence agencies are already in the field to trace out the source of the threat and the people involved in it.
Taj visited the diplomatic zone this evening to see the security arrangements.
The threat was issued in faxes to the two missions on Thursday evening to wrap up their embassies within seven days. The outfit also claimed one lakh US dollars.
When contacted, an official of the US embassy said: “US embassy does not comment on its security issues.”
Deputy Commissioner (Gulshan Zone) Akhtar Hafiz said that the strength of forces has been increased to 800 from 600 in the diplomatic enclave.
He said two special mobile teams-Dutabas-1 and Civil Team – have been asked to patrol the area. Police in plain clothes have also been deployed and police officers would be posted at the existing check posts in the diplomatic zone, earlier manned by members of the Armed Police Battalion (APBn).

Courtesy of The Independent