Are the Ambassadors experiencing a lack of security?
Recently, the additional security or escorts of the six embassies and ambassadors of the United States, United Kingdom, India, Australia, Japan and Saudi Arabia was withdrawn. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that police force security is maintained at each embassy and police gunmen are available for ambassadors. The extra security provided to them under special circumstances has been withdrawn.
But BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir is trying to explain this simple decision politically by completely ignoring the truth.
Let’s take a look at the security measures at the embassies.
Before the withdrawal of 6 security escorts, 166 security personnel were officially deployed at the US embassy. Now 158 are deployed. Among them, 117 are engaged in the security of embassies, residences and other establishments. 39 security personnel at other diplomatic residences and 2 gunmen for ambassadors are still deployed.
Currently, 29 security personnel are deployed at the British High Commission including 2 gunmen, 8 people each in the High Commission, High Commissioners residence and the club. 3 more deployed in the British Council. Before withdrawing 7 security escorts, the number stood at 36.
In the Indian High Commission, 40 security personnel are engaged, as against 47 earlier. The High Commissioner has not taken any gunman from the Special Branch but the government still appointed one. The remaining 39 are working in security at Indian embassies and officials’ residences. 7 security escorts have been withdrawn.
48 people are now serving in the security of the Saudi Arabian embassy and other facilities. 5 security escorts have been withdrawn.
Mirza Fakhrul may be forgetting that when his party was in power, the lives of the foreign ambassadors were at risk. The bomb attack on the then British High Commissioner in Sylhet tarnished the country’s image but the then BNP government did not take any steps to arrest those militants.
General people think Mirza Fakhrul’s provocative and misleading statements cannot tarnish the successes of the current government.
Embassies/ High Commissions | Embassy/ Residence/ Other Establishment | Other Diplomat’s residence | Gunman | Present Total | Escort | Previous Total |
US Embassy, Dhaka | 117 | 39 | 2 | 158 | 8 | 166 |
British High Commission | 27 | – | 2 | 29 | 7 | 36 |
Indian High Commission | 39 | – | 1 | 40 | 7 | 47 |
Embassy of KSA | 48 | – | – | 48 | 5 | 53 |