Bangladesh has withdrawn the “extra security escort” provided to some top diplomats, including those from India, the United States, the UK, and Saudi Arabia. The service was deemed redundant, costly, and discriminatory by Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen. Following an Islamist militant attack on a Dhaka restaurant in July 2016 that killed 20 people, mostly foreigners, extra security measures were put in place for some diplomats. However, the foreign minister said existing law and order no longer required such measures. Diplomats will still have police gunmen accompanying them, and designated police units will guard their residences and chancery complexes as usual.
Momen said many countries were now asking for a similar protocol, but Bangladesh would not provide it as it was discriminatory and no other country provided such benefits to Bangladesh’s ambassadors abroad. Dhaka Police Commissioner Khandker Golam Faruq told reporters that the shortage of manpower prompted authorities to make the decision to refrain from providing any additional protocol to certain diplomats. A specialised unit of para-police Ansar Force is available for hire by foreign missions if they want additional security measures. The US Embassy Public Diplomacy Section said the safety and security of diplomatic personnel and facilities were of utmost importance but declined to comment further.
