Security concern throws CPA convention to be held at Dhaka into uncertainty

The 62nd Commonwealth Parliamentary Association convention slated to be held in Dhaka between Sep 1 and Sep 10 has come under cloud with participants expressing security concerns following the Gulshan cafe attack, insiders say.

A Parliament Secretariat staffer told bdnews24.com that an email had been sent from the CPA head office by CPA Secretary-General M Akbar Khan.

“The mail states five out of nine CPA-affiliated regions have cautioned its citizens against travelling to Bangladesh following the Gulshan and Sholakia attacks.  Consequently, these nations shall not be sending their law makers to the convention in Bangladesh,” the staffer said.

While Speaker and CPA Executive Committee Chairperson Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury conceded that several CPA members have raised security concerns following the Gulshan and Sholakia attacks, but said there is no intimation about the cancellation of the meet yet.

“The speculation under the circumstances is whether there would be a drop in the number of participants if the meet were held in Dhaka. However, no decision has yet been taken,” she told bdnews24.com.

She added that in the event of the venue being shifted away from Dhaka, the CPA executive body would decide on an alternate venue.

“Bangladesh is fully prepared to host the convention. If the event is cancelled this year, Bangladesh will host it in 2017,” she said.

Several countries in the five regions of Australia, British Islands and Mediterranean (BIM), Canada, Caribbean, the Americas and Atlantic have issued travel cautions to its citizens travelling to Bangladesh.

More than 600 lawmakers are scheduled to take part in the 10-day convention.

The APNIC-42 and the Asia Pacific Money Laundering Group (APMLG) meets have already been shifted away from Bangladesh following the Gulshan and Sholakia attacks.