State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam yesterday said the government did not have any new information on travel alert issued by foreign countries.
“We did not receive any new information from anybody. They [embassies] told us that they were issuing alert for their citizens on the basis of previous information,” he said while speaking at a press briefing at the ministry.
The US Embassy in Dhaka issued a security message on Saturday while the British updated its travel advice on October 9.
However, Washington did not issue any travel alert or warning for Bangladesh but it issued travel alert or warning for Nepal, Myanmar, Saudi Arabia, Mexico and other 40 countries.
Shahriar said the Foreign Ministry contacted the Home Ministry about the issue.
“The Home Ministry informed us that they are doing whatever possible to bring the criminals to justice,” Shahriar Alam said.
Two foreign citizens – Cesare Tavella and Hoshi Kunio – were killed on September 28 and October 3 in Dhaka and Rangpur respectively.
The junior minister said on October 5, the government briefed the ambassadors about the killings and security measures taken by the government and asked them to provide their information. The investigation is going on on the basis of information gathered by the intelligence agencies, he said.
Asked whether the Western countries issued travel alerts as they are not on good terms with the government, the junior minister ruled it out.
“We have robust engagement with them and there are many manifestation of it,” he said.
He said the security status for Bangladesh is yellow, which means it is still in second phase and there are 58 countries in the world, which have yellow alert. There are four security status – green, yellow, orange and red.
Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali said everything is under the control of the government and it is prepared for anything.
Asked about the recent security message issued by the US embassy, he said there was nothing new in it. “I don’t think it is different or stronger than what was issued earlier,” he said.
The US Embassy issued a security message where it said: “Security agencies in Bangladesh have taken extraordinary measures to increase security for foreigners in Bangladesh, but the terrorist threat remains real and credible.”
The security message also said: “ISIL claimed responsibility for the September 28 killing of an Italian national and the October 3 killing of a Japanese national.”
Asked why the Western countries kept mentioning about ISIL claim in their alert, the minister said: “Why don’t you ask them? We will not respond to what they are circulating.”
Saudi tragedy
The state minister said 137 Bangladeshis were killed in Mina stampede during Hajj and still 53 are missing. He said out of 137, the identification of 96 have been confirmed. The rest 41 have been confirmed Bangladeshis but their identities are yet to be verified.
