UNICEF, IFRC, WFP employees leave Barisal due to JMB threat
Tuesday, 28 April 2009
Local and foreign staff members of UNICEF, IFRC and WFP have left their local offices following threats from the militant outfit JMB, reports UNB.
Regional coordinator of UNICEF Tawfiq Ahmed Monday said all officials and employees, except himself and his security guard, left Barisal and reported at Dhaka office.
Regional coordinator of IFRC Din Muhammad said some employees of their office left Barisal on leave.
No official was found in the office of WFP. A security guard of the office said there was none in the office.
BMP commissioner-in-charge Abdur Rahim said some of the employees of UNICEF, IFRC and WFP left Barisal to attend programmes in Dhaka. "I know nothing about closure of the offices."
He said security at the offices of the three international organisations was beefed up. "Stern action will be taken against the offenders after investigation."
Meanwhile, assistant director of IFRC local office Khalilur Rahman lodged a GD on Sunday night in connection with the JMB threats sent in through letters.
Three separate letters were sent to the offices of UNICEF, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent, and World Food Programme situated in the same building in the name of the banned Islamist outfit on April 20.
In the letters the sender asked the chiefs of the three organisations to shut down their operations and quit Bangladesh within 72 hours of receiving the ultimatum.
Regional coordinator of UNICEF Tawfiq Ahmed Monday said all officials and employees, except himself and his security guard, left Barisal and reported at Dhaka office.
Regional coordinator of IFRC Din Muhammad said some employees of their office left Barisal on leave.
No official was found in the office of WFP. A security guard of the office said there was none in the office.
BMP commissioner-in-charge Abdur Rahim said some of the employees of UNICEF, IFRC and WFP left Barisal to attend programmes in Dhaka. "I know nothing about closure of the offices."
He said security at the offices of the three international organisations was beefed up. "Stern action will be taken against the offenders after investigation."
Meanwhile, assistant director of IFRC local office Khalilur Rahman lodged a GD on Sunday night in connection with the JMB threats sent in through letters.
Three separate letters were sent to the offices of UNICEF, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent, and World Food Programme situated in the same building in the name of the banned Islamist outfit on April 20.
In the letters the sender asked the chiefs of the three organisations to shut down their operations and quit Bangladesh within 72 hours of receiving the ultimatum.