Bangladesh has reinforced security arrangements across the diplomatic enclave in Dhaka, including at the United States embassy, amid heightened global tensions, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has said.
The announcement came after a meeting on Monday morning between the minister and US Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent T. Christensen at the Ministry of Home Affairs in the Bangladesh Secretariat, according to an official statement.
Ahmed said additional measures had been put in place in the diplomatic area, with Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) deployed alongside regular police units to enhance protection. Law enforcement agencies have also been instructed to remain on high alert and implement precautionary steps where necessary.
During the discussions, the two sides reviewed cooperation on law enforcement and security matters, including counter-terrorism collaboration, tackling illegal migration, and strengthening protective arrangements for diplomatic missions.
The US ambassador reiterated Washington’s interest in expanding bilateral engagement, particularly in security coordination. He highlighted the proposed “Special Programme for Embassy Augmentation and Response” (SPEAR), aimed at enhancing security infrastructure for the US mission and surrounding diplomatic facilities in Dhaka. Christensen stressed the importance of concluding a memorandum of understanding swiftly, noting that allocated US funding could otherwise be reassigned.
In response, the home minister said the government remained committed to facilitating the programme, subject to approval at the highest levels.
Illegal migration and identity verification were also raised during the meeting. The ambassador said the United States plans to introduce an Electronic Nationality Verification (ENV) system in Bangladesh, which would streamline nationality checks and potentially place the country in what he described as a “Green Zone” category for US immigration processing.
Security cooperation between the two countries has expanded significantly over the past decade. According to US officials, around 30,000 members of the Bangladesh Police — from investigators to senior officers — have received training since 2010, along with equipment support. However, the envoy noted that the long-term impact has been reduced by retirements and personnel transfers.
Ahmed acknowledged the concern and instructed ministry officials to convene further discussions with relevant stakeholders to review implementation and continuity measures.
The meeting was attended by senior officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs and representatives from the US embassy, including political and economic advisers.
The reinforcement of security in Dhaka’s diplomatic district comes against the backdrop of global instability, as governments worldwide reassess protective arrangements for foreign missions and critical facilities.
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