The government plans special security measures for all foreign-aided projects following requests from development and bilateral partners who have been unnerved by the recent rise in militant attacks.

After a meeting with a number of ministers yesterday, Finance Minister AMA Muhith said the home ministry told the meeting that it was mulling special security for all donor-supported projects following requests from development and bilateral partners, particularly Japan.

“We don't want them [projects] to be destroyed. It will be a huge loss for the country [if they are destroyed],” he told reporters at the secretariat.

After the Holey Artisan Bakery attack in the capital's diplomatic zone on July 1, a number of embassies, including that of Japan, India, Denmark, South Korea, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Austria, Thailand and the Netherlands sought additional security for diplomats, UN organisations and their nationals living in Bangladesh.

Many foreign organisations and individuals also wrote letters to the home ministry, requesting additional security measures.

Muhith said security at project sites was never a concern for the government, but security has become a matter of concern now.

The minister said the government was hiring an international consultant in an effort to improve security at all key point installations (KPIs) following the recent rise in militant attacks.

“The consultant will work on how to organise security of all the KPIs.”

He said the road, transport and bridges ministry had either hired an international consultant or was in the process of hiring to take precautionary measures.

Home, planning and railways ministers and state ministers for foreign affairs and energy were present in the meeting.

Late last month, Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Masato Watanabe met Muhith and sought special security arrangements at all of its project areas for ensuring security for its nationals working in the projects.

“We have discussed the issue today [yesterday]. Sufficient security measures have been taken for the projects,” said Muhith.

The Japanese government has sought special security measures for its nationals working in Bangladesh as seven Japanese were among 20 foreign nationals killed in the Gulshan cafe attack.

The finance minister praised Japan for being Bangladesh's biggest bilateral donor for a long time and standing firmly with Bangladesh after the recent terrorist attacks.