After Militant attack in Dhaka, Australia postpone their tour of Bangladesh
The bilateral series between Bangladesh and Australia is postponed after the repeated security warning from the United States and United Kingdom that terrorist may attack Australian players to harm Australia’s interest in Bangladesh.
Recently an Italian citizen was shot dead in the diplomatic zone of Bangladesh’s capital Dhaka on Monday. The militant group Islamic State claimed responsibility for shooting death an Italian citizen, who was fatally shot dead when he was out for an evening walk. According to reports the Italian was reportedly followed by militants on a motor bike.
A group of the Cricket Australia security personnel has been visiting Bangladesh followed by the inputs from the United Kingdom and United States that extremist can harm Australia’s interest.
After meeting CA officials in Dhaka, Bangladesh’s home minister Asaduzzaman Khan said the Australians would get security usually reserved for visiting heads of state if they went ahead with the tour.
Australian cricketers were scheduled to travel Bangladesh on Sunday, but, halted by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Sean Carrol, CA head of security, team manager Gavin Dovey and team security manger manager Frank Dimasi were returning to Australia on Tuesday after meeting with Bangladesh officials. The trio is expected to meet with Department of Foreign and Trade before briefing CA about the security situations in Bangladesh.
UK and US have given a fresh warning to Australian citizen in Bangladesh.
“UK officials have been advised to limit attendance at events where westerners may gather. You should be particularly vigilant at this time,” the updated UK travel bulletin said.
The USA’s FBI said “reliable new information to suggest that militants may be planning to target Australian interests in Bangladesh”.
“Such attacks, should they occur, could likely affect other foreigners, including US citizens,” the US Department of State bulletin stated.
US governments banned all their personnel in Bangladesh from attending any large gatherings, including events at international hotels.
The US banned all its government personnel in Bangladesh from attending large gatherings, including events at international hotels.
“The US government continues to receive information that terrorist groups in South Asia may also be planning attacks in the region,”it said. “Terrorists have demonstrated their willingness and ability to attack locations where US citizens or westerners are known to congregate or visit.”
Australia was scheduled to play under their new captain Steve Smith. The series features a tour game starting on 3 October against a Bangladesh Cricket Board XI, followed by two Tests.
Meanwhile, these warnings have taken Bangladesh Cricket Board president Nazmul Hassan by surprise. He was “shocked” by the Australian government advice its cricketers. “This is very disappointing for us. There is no risk for them in Bangladesh,” Hassan said.
However, despite the question over the series’ future, BCB has shown confidence and announced their squad for the first Test lead by Mishfiqur Rahim.
Bangladesh: Mushfiqur Rahim (capt), Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Jubair Hossain, Liton Das, Mahmudullah, Mohammad Shahid, Mominul Haque, Mustafizur Rahman, Nasir Hossain, Rubel Hossain, Shakib Al Hasan, Soumya Sarkar, Taijul Islam.