Additional security no longer needed in Bangladesh for ambassadors of 6 countries: Momen

[Bilal9]

File photo of Foreign Minister Abdul Momen. Photo: UNB​

File photo of Foreign Minister Abdul Momen. Photo: UNB

Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen has observed that additional security for some foreign diplomats is 'discriminatory, also no longer required, as the law and order situation in Bangladesh is under control.

He has said that the ambassadors of at least six countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, India, and Saudi Arabia, will no longer get additional security escort services they used to receive in Bangladesh.

"We have decided not to provide additional security escort services to foreign ambassadors of any country. But if any country feels it is necessary, they can hire the services," the minister told The Business Standard on Monday.

"The service used to be provided to five-six countries. Now, many countries have been asking for it. But we will not give it to anyone, because it is discriminatory. No one gives such benefits to our ambassadors abroad," he added.

The foreign minister stated, "The law and order situation in our country is very good. Nevertheless, foreign diplomats have the option to hire security escorts at their own expense. In such cases, they can avail themselves of the escort services provided by the Ansar battalion for a fee."

Meanwhile, an official from the Diplomatic Security Division of Dhaka Metropolitan Police told The Business Standard that the additional security protocol for various embassies and high commissions has already been withdrawn since Saturday.

On Monday evening, DMP Commissioner Khandker Golam Faruq told the media that due to a shortage of manpower, they have made the decision to refrain from providing any additional protocol to certain diplomatic chanceries.

However, the DMP commissioner clarified that this adjustment in amenities does not imply a compromise on their commitment to security.

The DMP commissioner further mentioned that the number of police personnel deployed for embassy and high commission security will remain unchanged; however, the provision of extra-protocol services will be discontinued.

Meanwhile, in a statement on Monday, Sean McIntosh, Counselor, Public Diplomacy Section, US Embassy, said, "The safety and security of our diplomatic personnel and facilities are of the utmost importance. In accordance with longstanding policy, we do not disclose security details concerning the US Embassy. Per the Vienna Convention, the host country must uphold its obligations to ensure the protection of all diplomatic missions and personnel."

 

[X-ray Papa]

"The service used to be provided to five-six countries. Now, many countries have been asking for it. But we will not give it to anyone, because it is discriminatory. No one gives such benefits to our ambassadors abroad," he added.

Good, at least we are finally standing up for ourselves.

 

[Bilal9]

Good, at least we are finally standing up for ourselves.

Standing up is nice, but it may hurt our economic diplomacy abroad.

 

[bluesky]

Standing up is nice, but it may hurt our economic diplomacy abroad.

Hasina is busy with sending Police and RAB to kidnap and kill Opposition people. They have little time to protect white VIPs.

Hasina should now accord better security to her mentor India’s Charge de Affairs.

 

[Bilal9]

Hasina is busy with sending Police and RAB to kidnap and kill Opposition people. They have little time to protect white VIPs.

Hasina should now accord better security to her mentor India’s Charge de Affairs.

They withdrew protection for Indian HC as well I believe. India was one of the four/five countries accorded this privilege earlier.

Main focus though (for Hasina) is obviously the US foreign mission in Dhaka and they are the ones loudly commenting on it.

He has said that the ambassadors of at least six countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, India, and Saudi Arabia, will no longer get additional security escort services they used to receive in Bangladesh.

 

[Bilal9]

Host country must ensure protection of all diplomatic personnel: US​

The US has said the safety and security of their diplomatic personnel and facilities are of utmost importance.

"I'm not going to get into the specifics about security details concerning the US embassy or its personnel," Vedant Patel, principal deputy spokesperson for the US Department of State, said during a press briefing yesterday at the State Department.

Patel made the remarks after Bangladesh decided not to provide additional security escorts for a number of foreign diplomats, including the US and UK envoys, in Dhaka.

Patel noted that as per the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, any host country "must uphold its obligations to ensure the protection of all diplomatic mission premises and personnel and take all appropriate steps to prevent any attack on personnel."

Read more

Govt calls off addl security for 6 envoys​

Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen yesterday said, "If they [US] want it, they can get it in exchange for payment. We won't provide this extra [security] escort service with taxpayers' money."

"In developed countries, no government provides such extra facilities," Momen said.

The minister said there has been no deterioration of the law and order situation that such service is required.

US won’t comment on participatory polls in Bangladesh

The US is not concerned about participation of any particular party in Bangladesh’s next elections but it wants the polls to be fair and held in a congenial environment, a senior visiting State Department official said.

www.thedailystar.net

 

[INS_Vikrant]

Good Job Bangladesh. Indian govt should take a note.

 

[RashidKhanTheLegend]

This is actually good.unnecessary escorts are used in Volatile countries and not stable ones... Else you see Diplomats of other countries in USA,UK sipping coffee like commoners and plebeians

 

[Destranator]

I am all for embassies paying for protection but offering Ansar for hire cannot be the solution. You need operatives specialised in close and ambush protection. There are no authorised private firms that can provide such services to the required standards.

The government can consider expanding SSF and offering coverage to embassies for hefty fees.

I disagree with the notion that such security is unnecessary as Bangladesh has enough brainwashed nutjobs to attack diplomats.

 

[bluesky]

 

[bluesky]

Bangladesh keeps providing security to diplomats in "much better, efficient way": Shahriar Alam

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam said on Thursday the government and the law enforcement agencies are ensuring the security of the foreign diplomats stationed in Dhaka in a "much better and efficient way" compared to many other countries. "Our government and law enforcement

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

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