Foreign Diplomats: They get better security here than many countries

Compared to many countries, Bangladesh provides better and more effective security to foreign diplomats stationed here, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam said yesterday.

“Our law enforcers and home ministry have been providing security and will continue to do so,” he told journalists after meeting International Maritime Organization (IMO) council member representatives in the capital’s Padma state guest house.

The government withdrew additional police security for four ambassadors, including those of the US and UK, citing a shortage of manpower in the force and improvement in the country’s law and order.

Regular security, however, remains the same.

The embassies in want of additional security can now get it in exchange for payment and it will be provided by Ansar members.

On Wednesday, the government finalised how the Ansar would provide security to diplomats and foreign missions in Dhaka would be informed about it through notes verbales by Sunday.

At the meeting with IMO council members, Shahriar sought their support for Bangladesh’s candidate — Captain Moin Ahmed, former director general of London’s International Maritime Mobile Satellite Organization — vying for the post of the IMO’s secretary general in its upcoming July election.

Asked if the prime minister’s remarks that nothing would be purchased from countries that impose sanctions on Bangladesh would have implications, he said, “There will be no impact on trade and business in this regard.”

He, however, did not elaborate.

He added, “We are a strong state partner [of the US] and respect each other’s policies. We are in constant engagement and this will take our relationship forward. If there are changes, we will let you know.”

Asked if the PM’s remark about the US is a political rhetoric, Shahriar said he has no capacity to analyse her remarks.

“Our prime minister has been through experiences that we never faced … The killing of her family members … She walked from door to door and still didn’t get justice. We don’t know what she went through,” he said.