Security has been tightened across Dhaka’s diplomatic zone following reports that several foreign embassies received threatening emails. Diplomatic missions in Baridhara and Gulshan have been placed under heightened surveillance, with additional law-enforcement personnel deployed both in uniform and plain clothes.
The Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit of Dhaka Metropolitan Police has begun investigating the incident after representatives of several diplomatic missions held discussions with CTTC officials. Police are also examining the source and nature of the emails and whether they were intended to cause panic or posed any specific security threat.
Abu Khayer, additional deputy commissioner of the DMP’s diplomatic security division, said police had not received any formal written complaint directly from the affected embassies. He said the Chinese Embassy had informed police headquarters about the matter through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, after which the issue was brought under investigation by the CTTC.
Following the reports, security measures around diplomatic premises have been strengthened. Police have increased checks at key points, stepped up patrols and enhanced surveillance in front of embassies and other sensitive locations. Quick Response Teams have also been kept on standby so that they can respond rapidly if any emergency arises.
The additional police commissioner said there was no immediate reason for people in the diplomatic area to panic, stressing that the increased security presence was intended to ensure the safety of diplomatic missions and maintain a secure environment.
At the same time, investigators have yet to establish who sent the threatening messages, why they were sent or precisely how many diplomatic missions received them. Police said they had not been formally provided with complete details of the emails or the identities of all the missions allegedly targeted.
According to sources, the threatening emails were sent to several foreign embassies in Bangladesh towards the end of last week. Preliminary assessment by law-enforcement authorities suggests that the messages may have been sent with the intention of creating fear and confusion. Investigators are expected to examine the content of the emails, their origins and any possible links between the recipients.
Despite the seriousness of the reports, police said no general diary or formal written complaint had been lodged with Gulshan Police Station in connection with the threats. The absence of a direct complaint does not, however, mean that the matter has been disregarded, as the information was communicated through diplomatic and police channels and is now being assessed by the CTTC.
The diplomatic area in Gulshan and Baridhara houses a large number of foreign missions and diplomatic establishments, making security in the neighbourhood a particularly sensitive responsibility for law-enforcement agencies. Any credible threat against a diplomatic mission can require rapid coordination between the police, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the concerned embassy.
For the time being, authorities have increased their vigilance while the investigation continues. Police have urged against unnecessary alarm, saying that additional patrols, checkpoints, surveillance and rapid-response arrangements are being maintained as precautionary measures while investigators work to determine the origin and credibility of the threats.
