Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed announced on Monday that Bangladesh has significantly enhanced protective measures around diplomatic missions in the capital, with special focus on the United States embassy.
He made the announcement following high-level discussions with American officials on Monday.
The security upgrade comes in response to the current volatile global situation, with the Border Guard Bangladesh now supplementing regular police personnel in safeguarding the diplomatic enclave.
Law enforcement agencies across the capital have been placed on heightened alert with instructions to implement comprehensive precautionary protocols.
Salahuddin disclosed these developments during a meeting with US Ambassador Brent T. Christensen at the Home Ministry offices in the Bangladesh Secretariat. The discussions covered an extensive range of collaborative security concerns including counter-terrorism operations, curbing unauthorized migration, and advancing technological verification systems.
The minister characterized the United States as a longstanding security partner of Bangladesh, highlighting decades of cooperation in combating terrorism and maintaining public order. Ambassador Christensen reciprocated by expressing Washington's commitment to deepening bilateral ties with Dhaka.
A key focus of the discussions centered on the Special Programme for Embassy Augmentation and Response, known as SPEAR, designed to strengthen security infrastructure for American diplomatic facilities and the broader diplomatic quarter in Dhaka. Christensen urged rapid finalization of a memorandum of understanding, warning that delays could result in allocated US funding being redirected to other priorities.
He assured the ambassador that the government would expedite program implementation following approval from top leadership.
The American envoy also pushed for adoption of the Electronic Nationality Verification system in Bangladesh, suggesting successful deployment would elevate the country to favorable status in US immigration assessments.
Christensen noted that since 2010, Washington has provided training to approximately thirty thousand Bangladeshi police officers across various ranks, from investigators to Deputy Inspector General level, along with essential equipment. He acknowledged that personnel transfers and retirements have somewhat diminished the program's effectiveness.
The minister responded by pledging corrective action and instructing ministry officials to coordinate a workshop with relevant stakeholders to address continuity challenges.
Also present at the meeting were Rebeka Khan, Joint Secretary of the Home Ministry's Political-1 Branch, alongside several US embassy officials including Political and Economic Counselor Eric Geelan, Political Officer Shane Sanders, Political Specialist Tanik Munir, and Political Officer Riley Palmertree.
