WHILE many western envoys in the capital said they are satisfied over the government’s safety measures for foreign nationals withdrawal of Japanese volunteers working in JICA projects in different parts of the country passed confusing signals on security matters. Report published in The New Nation on Wednesday said that 48 Japanese volunteers are returning home on a month vacation and they would return on expiry of the leave. Earlier, a Spanish firm withdrew its workers from power and gas plants and oil depots causing setback to those projects. Despite the Home Minister’s repeated assurances over security of foreigners and such other assurance from law enforcers, the action of the Japanese government suggests that they need more to be reassured when their so many workers in the countryside are fearful of safety.
We understand that fear of the Japanese may be quite high because they have lost a national in an unfortunate and unbelievable attack in a country for which he was working to bring about development. There is reason for JICA workers in the field to be tired and allowing them to go on leave is a right step to recover from the tension they suffered over the past weeks. But we hope they would return to continue to work for our country as a leading development partner of Bangladesh for which we hold the Japanese nation in high esteem.
Keeping aside the debate who killed the two foreigners – local outfits or foreign terrorists — one thing is noticeable is that the government has beefed up security measures in the capital and all over the country to give protection to foreign aid workers at each locality and every districts. In the capital diplomatic missions and their staff also have been provided with highest security with police, RAB and other specialized forces patrolling the streets to provide foolproof safety to diplomats and foreign nationals in the city. The two killings have woken up the entire nation to give enough protection to foreigners in our country who are engaging in trade and other development projects. Meanwhile, the government is working to identify the killers and put them on trial.
Diplomats who raised the security concerns critically two weeks ago are now apparently satisfied with the safety measures the government has clamped down at all level. Envoys of Italy, France, Germany, Canada, USA and many others have expressed their satisfaction with the safety measures and we hope that the Japanese government would also share the same view with regard to safety measures now at work.
In our view the problem is not terrorism but lawlessness resulted from intolerance to opposition. The government should rethink to change repressive politics to restore law and order in the country.
