Task Force recommends new measures to ensure diplomatic security in Dhaka

A Task Force, constituted after the July 1 terror attack, has recommended “some new measures” to strengthen security of the diplomats and the officials of the diplomatic missions in Dhaka.

Senior Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 4 August 2016, 03:33 PM
Updated : 4 August 2016, 03:40 PM

The foreign ministry released a statement after the first meeting held on Thursday at the state guest house Padma.

But it has not elaborated what those measures would be.

Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali chaired the meeting on the security of diplomats and diplomatic premises, it said.

State Minister M Shahriar Alam, the principal secretary to the PMO, foreign secretary and representatives from home ministry, Economic Relations Division, Police, Armed Forces Division and other agencies were present.

The Task Force was formed following the July 1 terror attack at a cafe at Gulshan diplomatic zone. Seventeen foreigners were among the victims.

The Islamic State has claimed credit for the attack. The government has dismissed those claims and insists that the violence is home-grown.

Western countries raised security alarm following the attack and asked their citizens to consider carefully whether they need to travel to Bangladesh.

The EU ambassador in Dhaka, after the attack, had said that diplomatic security had to be revisited.

The US State Department had “authorized the voluntary departure of family members of U.S. government personnel posted to the U.S. Embassy in Dhaka”.

The foreign ministry said the Thursday meeting reviewed security-related issues of the diplomats and officials of the diplomatic missions as well as International organisations in Bangladesh and assessed the measures adopted.

“The meeting expressed satisfaction with the measures taken to enhance vigilance and patrol in the diplomatic area for their protection,” said the statement.