Anisul Islam Noor :
The government has beefed-up security measure at power plants, gas plants and oil depots across the country where foreign nationals are working.
The tightened security measure has been taken with a view to ensuring safety of foreign nationals in their respective workplaces after the recent killing of two foreigners, official sources said.
Meanwhile, security measures have already been ensured for 23 national establishments, all of which are labelled as Key Point Installations (KPIs) and located in Narayanganj, Ashuganj, Brahmanbaria and Sirajganj.
Police have been instructed to remain on high alert and to monitor as well as ensure the best possible security at all power plants, silo and oil depots.
They have also been instructed to ensure security of the oil transporting convoys from Padma, Meghna and Jamuna oil depots in Narayanganj to different parts of the country.
“The leaving of foreigners would affect many big power plants as those are mostly dependent on the foreign technicians. In some cases, the local engineers and technicians are not able to install heavy equipment of power plants,” said Md Mostofa Kamal, Managing Director of the Electricity Generation Company of Bangladesh (EGCB).
Very recently, a Spanish company has temporarily withdrawn 41 foreign officials working in two under constructions and one operational plant over security concerns.
Of them, 38 were working in Siddhirganj, two in Bibiyana and one in Khulna, sources said.
The foreigners were working under Spanish company Isolux Ingenieria at 335MW Siddhirganj Power Project, 400MW Bibiyana South Power Project and 150MW Khulna Power Project.
“We tried to provide them with the best possible security but they have still withdrawn their foreign employees. My project will be hampered seriously if they don’t return soon,” said Md Mostofa Kamal.
The Spanish company, who carries out development works at different power plants, sent a letter to the authorities on October 5 regarding withdrawal of its staff for an interim period on security grounds. It also notified the Power Development Board (PDB) about its concerns.
Another high official of EGCB based in Siddhirganj, , preferring anonymity, said work at the plant has remained stalled for the last few days.
Abdul Barek, a feeder mechanic at the plant, said as there was no work, they were sent home with half of the wages.
ATM Zahirul Islam Majumder, member of planning of PDB, said two foreign nationals had come back to Dhaka from the Bibiyana South Project. However, no other foreign nationals from any of PDB projects have left yet, he said.
At the Ghorashal power plant, people of many nationalities, including Russians, are working but there is no lack of security.
Shahidul Morsalin Joarder, Director of the ‘Upgradation of Khulna 150 MW to 225 MW combined cycle power plant project’ said Isolux had withdrawn one of its staff member from the project but the rest of the foreign officials are still working there.
In Shajibazar of the Habiganj district, a Chinese firm is working to construct a 300 MW combined cycle power plant. Around 200 Chinese nationals are working there. Private security organisation Elite Force is providing security there. In addition, a Chinese security firm is also looking after the security of the plant. Law enforcement personnel of Hobiganj were also instructed to ensure security there.
In Bibiyana gas field located in Nabiganj upazila of the district, 48 foreign nationals are now working there. By the side of gas field, another 200 foreign nationals are working in the under-construction Bibiyana South and Bibiyana 3. Officials of the plants said that they have ensured security of their own staff.
