AMN / WEB DESK
The government of Bangladesh has decided to withdraw the additional security currently being provided to some diplomatic missions in Dhaka. In a Press Release, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) said that additional security including vehicles to support the movement of the diplomats in traffic was provided unofficially to some foreign diplomats after a terror incident in Dhaka, a few years back but now the law and order situation in Bangladesh is normal and there is no need for additional security, said the release.
Currently, Diplomatic missions of the US, UK, India, and Saudi Arabia receive special security protocols from the government of Bangladesh. Most of the other Diplomatic Missions are provided with static armed guards outside their premises by the Diplomatic Security Division of Bangladesh Police in Dhaka.
The Ministry said that similar requests were received from other foreign missions in Bangladesh for which the Home Ministry had created a special team composed of the Ansar Police force. Foreign diplomats can avail the additional security at their own expense. In case, a foreign mission wishes to avail of the security of the Ansar Police force or additional security they may write to the government which will decide about the deployment.
Ansar is an auxiliary police force of Bangladesh working under the Ministry of Home Affairs tasked with internal security. The MoFA statement said the security maintained by members of the police force at foreign missions and police-provided gunmen to the heads of missions will continue to be provided as Bangladesh respects international law and customary practices for providing security to foreign diplomats. The statement pointed out that no Bangladesh head of mission abroad is provided with extra security or facility for movement in traffic.