Home minister says Bangladesh government not taking any chances in providing security to foreigners

The government is leaving nothing to chance when it comes to providing security to foreigners, the home minister has said after the UK in a new alert feared that westerners may face fresh attacks in Bangladesh.

“There are 214,700 foreign nations currently staying in the country. We’ve covered every side to ensure their safety. There is no lacking,” Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal told bdnews24.com on Friday night.

Special security measures for the foreigners were taken in Dhaka’s diplomatic zone Gulshan and Baridhara after the recent murders of two foreign nationals.

Japanese Kunio Hoshi was murdered on Oct 3 at a Rangpur suburb in a similar way Italian aid worker Cesare Tavella was gunned down on Sep 28 in Dhaka.

Islamic State had purportedly claimed credit of both the murders - but the government is denying presence of the militant group in Bangladesh.

The home minister on Oct 6 said the authorities were working to identify and put on record the residences and workplaces of foreign nationals.

Apart from ratcheting up security in the capital’s diplomatic enclave, Police Headquarters ordered the SPs and OCs across the country to maintain vigilance and ensure safety of the foreigners.

Amidst all these, the UK in an updated travel advice for Britons on Friday said, “There is a high threat from terrorism. Further attacks targeting westerners may occur.”

Though it was not clear what prompted a fresh fear of terrorism threat, the British High Commission spokesperson told bdnews24.com they did not advise against travel to Bangladesh.

Security personnel frisk bikers at the entrance of the diplomatic zone in Dhaka's Baridhara on Wednesday after the recent murders of two foreigners in Bangladesh. Photo: mostafigur rahman

“The travel advice has been amended to reflect the continued high threat from terrorism in Bangladesh and the risk of further attacks targeting westerners.”                 

“There are no changes to the parts of Bangladesh to which we advise against travel,” the spokesperson said.

Regarding Britain’s concern, the home minister said, “I can’t say anything about this (alert) before proper evaluation.”

Elite police force RAB Director General Col Ziaul Ahsan also told bdnews24.com on Friday night that they were “working day and night” to ensure security of the foreigners across the country.

“We are very alert,” he said, adding that they would try to find out why the UK issued fresh warning.