Foreign envoys ‘satisfied’ with security: Minister

-- Envoys of 4 states meet home minister

-- ‘Satisfied’ with security measures

-- Seek continued security

Envoys of United States, United Kingdom, Australia and Canada met Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan at his office today and discussed security issues.

They were satisfied with the security measures taken by Bangladesh government, the minister told reporters after the meeting at the Secretariat.

The meeting took place couple of days after the US, France and Italy expressed satisfaction with security after the murder of two foreign nationals in Bangladesh.

At the meeting today, the envoys said to have inquired whether the prevailing security arrangements would continue, to which Minister Khan said “it will”.

“We told them that we have many foreigners in the country, working even in the remote region. They have had no problems,” the minister said.

Several western countries including the US issued security alerts for their nationals in Bangladesh after the murders of Italian Cesare Tavella on September 28 in Dhaka’s diplomatic zone. The killing of Japanese Kunio Hoshi just five days later further sent panic to the foreigners.

Terrorist outfit Islamic State claimed responsibility of both the murders, according to US-based SITE Intelligence Group.

The government later stepped up security for foreigners throughout the country. Gulshan was wrapped in a tight security blanket.

Though it expressed satisfaction over the security measures, the US updated its security alert recently. Its envoy Marcia Bernicat said the alert was not a new one, it was just an update.

“We have asked them to share any specific intelligence regarding security,” Home Minister Khan told journalists today, “But they could not give us any.”

He said he told the envoys there was no Islamic State or militant link into the killings of the foreigners. “The perpetrators will be identified soon.”