Feeling 'more secure than in the past'

The European Union and Germany yesterday said that because of additional security measures taken by the law enforcers, foreigners are feeling more secure than in the past in the capital's diplomatic zone.

EU Ambassador to Bangladesh Pierre Mayaudon and German Ambassador Thomas Prinz made the remarks after holding separate meetings with Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque at the foreign ministry.

Meanwhile, the Japan government has decided to take back around 50 percent of its volunteers from Bangladesh on security grounds, a highly placed diplomatic source in Dhaka told The Daily Star.

Talking to reporters after meeting the foreign secretary, the EU ambassador said additional police have been deployed in Gulshan, Banani and other diplomatic areas in the capital. “We are feeling more secure than in the past … residents of these areas are moving and living freely.”

German Ambassador Prinz said he still felt secure and he didn't change his lifestyle. He, however, noted that he was a bit more careful than he had been before.

The envoy said he conveyed an invitation to the foreign secretary to visit Berlin in December.

On Monday, the USA, France and Italy expressed satisfaction over the security measures taken by the government for the safety and security of foreigners in Bangladesh.

EU envoy Mayaudon said he did not discuss the security issue with the foreign secretary. “The topic was purely about joint commission and the Asia-Europe Meeting.”

The EU-Bangladesh joint commission meeting, to be held in Dhaka next month, will review trade and investment, human rights, migration, development and many other issues, he added.

In response to a question, the ambassador said the EU trade commissioner will be visiting Bangladesh, but not very soon.

JAPAN VOLUNTEERS TO RETURN

Japan has decided to take back around 40 volunteers who are currently working in Bangladesh under Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica).

The volunteers will go back to Japan very soon, said diplomatic sources.

However, they will come back later on, a Jica source said.

Around 70 young male and female members of Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers have been working in and outside Dhaka for a long time to support different sectors including health, agriculture, handicrafts and IT.

Of them, around 35 work in Rangpur, Barisal, Rajshahi, Gazipur, Comilla, Laxmipur, Chittagong, Tangail and Dinajpur.

Japan embassy sources said most of the volunteers have been absent from offices since the killing of Japanese citizen Kunio Hoshi in Rangpur on October 3. The foreigner was shot dead five days after the killing of Italian aid worker Cesare Tavella in the capital's Gulshan.

As the volunteers are not attending their work, the Japan authorities have decided to send them back home.

Earlier, the Japan embassy postponed several scheduled programmes, including the October 19 seminar on Study in Japan and Japanese Food Festival, slated for the end of this month.