Bangladesh freedom honour recipient Julian Francis urges authorities to improve security checks

"As a long term resident of Bangladesh and the last 18 years in Banani, I am deeply shocked to learn what has happened at the Gulshan restaurant Friday night.

"Although, as correctly reported, the location of the restaurant is in the diplomatic area with a number of embassies nearby, the road blocks and security checks on places like Kemal Attaturk Road and Gulshan Avenue are not proper check posts at all.

"They serve only to slow down the traffic and the only persons who are actually checked are those on motorbikes.

"The only genuine and thorough security checks on people and vehicles take place at the foreign embassies and high commissions as well as  5-star hotels.

"Obviously, the authorities urgently need to look into how to improve the security checks for the high-profile areas of Baridhara, Gulshan and Banani."