No extra security (escort) will be given to any foreign ambassador at the government expense (with public tax money) as the law and order situation is very good in Bangladesh. Additional security forces will be given to diplomats on payment if they want. However, regular security measures for foreign missions and their personnel remain unchanged as per Vienna Convention.
Foreign Minister Dr. A K Abdul Momen, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen separately made the government’s stand clear. We appreciate the time-befitting decision taken by the Bangladesh government as no extra security is provided to any Bangladesh envoys abroad.
Dhaka withdraws additional security to envoys of 6 countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, India, and Saudi Arabia. So, they will no longer get additional security escort services they used to receive here.
However, foreign diplomats can hire escorts at their own expense. In this case, they can receive the escort service of the Ansar Battalion. Additional security for some foreign diplomats is 'discriminatory’, also no longer required. The government will give additional security personnel to ambassadors if they want.
The
government believes
that the
withdrawal of additional security
to foreign diplomats will not affect
bilateral relations
When militancy and terrorism were emerged in the country, Bangladesh government gave protection for four embassies. The government gave road protection for them to avoid any trouble in any way. However, it did not give protection for anyone outside these four embassies.
So, the government has removed the road protection as such situation does not exist now. The home ministry has formed Ansar Guard Regiment to ensure this protection.
The cost of Ansars will have to bear by the embassy. Bangladesh government has police protection for every embassy and gunmen for the four ambassadors. Besides, all types of protection were given for them.
But we are expressing our utter resentment as the Bangladesh Nationalist Party has been engaged in a dirty game over the withdrawal of extra security for envoys. The BNP has also started hatching conspiracies centering issue in order to satisfy foreign countries, which they believe install them to state power.
The BNP is also making evil efforts to create confusion and unrest in the country. But the Bangladesh government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina believes that the withdrawal of additional security to foreign diplomats does not seem to affect bilateral relations because the matter is related to protocol.
Moreover, Bangladesh’s relations with various countries are tied to many other important issues. Therefore, we do not see any security deficit in the country and militancy and the law and order situation is fully controlled.
