Worries remain despite security measures

Envoys of four countries yesterday said there is still some concern despite the government's beefing-up of security.

US Ambassador Marcia Bernicat, British High Commissioner Robert W Gibson, Canadian High Commissioner Benoît-Pierre Laramée and Australian High Commissioner Greg Wilcock said this during a meeting with Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal at his office.

"We are satisfied, but there is still some concern," the home minister quoted the envoys as saying while talking to reporters after the meeting.

Bernicat told reporters that the threats to foreigners' lives are credible and they remain real.

The minister, however, said the envoys could not provide any specific information about their concern.

"Tell us if there is any specific information and we will address it. But they could not provide any information," he said.

However, the envoys assured that if they have any information they will share it following their respective government policies, the minister said.

The home boss also told the envoys that Islamic State militants were not linked with the foreigners' killings and that there's some conspiracy behind the killings. He reiterated that they are close to cracking the cases.

The meeting took place a couple of days after the US, France and Italy expressed satisfaction with security measures following the murders of two foreign nationals in Bangladesh.

The minister said when the envoys inquired whether the current security arrangement will continue, he replied saying it will.

Kamal said now there are 2,14,700 foreigners in the country and the number of inbound and outbound foreigners remains the same as in the past.

Several western countries including the US issued security alerts for their nationals in Bangladesh after the murders of Italian national Cesare Tavella on September 28 in the capital's diplomatic zone. The killing of Japanese Kunio Hoshi in Rangpur just five days later further raised foreigners' concerns.

Terrorist outfit Islamic State claimed responsibility for both the murders, according to US-based SITE Intelligence Group.

Following the murders, the government has beefed up security measures for foreigners throughout the country and Gulshan has been wrapped in a tight security blanket.

Despite its satisfaction over security measures, the US updated its security alert recently.

Its envoy Marcia Bernicat told reporters that the alert was just an update.

BERNICAT FOR WOKING TOGETHER

She said, " … we must work with you and your government to keep our citizens safe and keep all Bangladeshis safe from any threats, including terrorist threats."

Bernicat said they are "enormously grateful" for not only the warm welcome they receive from Bangladeshi citizens every day but also for the security assistance the foreigners are getting from the police and the government during this time.

About security advisories, she said they do not advise people against coming to Bangladesh.

"We have a legal obligation to our citizens and our government to keep our citizens safe and we do that through advisories. Those advisories urge them to be vigilant and to be aware of the threats. We intend to remain vigilant."

Both the US ambassador and the home minister described the meeting as "very productive".

TRAVEL NOTICE BY SOUTH KOREAN EMBASSY

Meanwhile, the South Korean embassy yesterday issued a travel notice on the occasion of two religious festivals.

It said that on the occasion of the Hindu festival "Durga Puja" and Shia Muslim festival "Ashura", the South Korean embassy strongly encourages its citizens to exercise a high degree of caution by avoiding places and events which are attended by many people.

It urged South Korean citizens staying in Bangladesh to remain alert regarding their personal security at all times.