Staff Reporter :
The Home Ministry has ordered the law enforcers to strengthen security measures to all Japanese offices in Bangladesh.
The ministry ordered the Police Headquarters to strengthen security to Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), its projects across the country, Students of Japanese schools, the officials of Japan embassy and the residence of the ambassador.
The Japanese Foreign Department has sent letters several times to Bangladesh government to give police protection round the clock. Besides, they have requested to give permission to carry arms by the private security forces in their offices.
Sources said, JICA President Shinichi Kitawka will visit Dhaka on August 6 and 7. Law enforcers have been asked to give the JICA President and his co-visitors round the clock protection.
The JICA president will meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith, Foreign Minister AH Mahmud Ali and Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal. He will also sit with JICA officials in Bangladesh offices.
The issues of bilateral interests will be discussed in those meetings. The security issue will be the top priority in those meetings, the sources said.
They said, Japan become anxious about their nationals’ security after the last July 1 attack on Holey Artisan Bakery in Gulshan in which 29 people were killed. Seven Japanese nationals were among them.
After the incident, Japan has requested the Bangladesh government to strengthen their citizens’ security here.
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal told journalists that they have directed police to take appropriate measures to give round the clock protection to the Japanese and other foreign citizens.
“We have ensured security everywhere for the foreign nationals. From their residence to work place and everywhere they want we are giving them protection. The diplomatic zone and everywhere is now secured,” he said.
Earlier the Japanese embassy has requested the government to strengthening security to 16 officials of JICA, 68 Japanese private enterprises and another five non government cooperative organizations, relevant officials said.
They have also requested to ensure security during mobility to the JICA and other officials to make continue the Japanese cooperative works and to ensure the future development projects in Bangladesh.
Sources said, foreigners working in different projects in Bangladesh have been asking for special security after the Gulshan and Sholakia attacks. The concerned ambassadors, high commissioners and other officials have met ministers and asked to take appropriate measures.
Recently, JICA Vice President Hidioci Irijaki has expressed his anxiety about the security of several hundred Japanese citizens over a letter to Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith.
Sources said, around 50 projects are now running in different districts of the country.
