DHAKA: Bangladesh police said on Wednesday that they had arrested six people in connection with a burglary incident which took place in Pakistan’s High Commission (PHC) in Dhaka on November 22 which had resulted in "sensitive data” being stolen from the premises.
While three of those detained were directly involved in the break-in, the rest were arrested for their role in the trading of the stolen goods, police said.
“We have recovered three CPUs, one computer monitor, four UPS batteries and a stolen AC from their possession. Our law enforcers took the matter very seriously and we have recovered the stolen goods within 48 hours of filing the case,” Hayatul Islam Khan, Deputy Commissioner of the Diplomatic Security Division, Bangladesh police, told Arab News.
Khan added that the thieves were not members of an “organized gang” and that the incident occurred in an unprotected area behind the mission’s building. “We have suggested to the mission officials to strengthen the protection measures of the mission compound and we assure that our police is always highly vigilant to ensure security in the diplomatic areas,” he said.
His comments follow serious objections raised by Pakistan a day earlier with the Foreign Office saying on Tuesday that it was the responsibility of the Bangladesh government to ensure the security of its staff and the items located on the premises.
After being notified of the incident, PHC officials immediately reported the matter to Bangladesh’s police and an FIR was lodged. Islamabad also informed Bangladesh’s Foreign office of the incident and requested for security to be tightened on the premises, a statement released by Pakistan’s Foreign Office read on Tuesday.
“It has been underscored that as a host, it is the responsibility of the Bangladesh government to provide full security to the Pakistan High Commission premises. Authorities in Bangladesh have been requested to carry out a thorough investigation, share a detailed report with us and bring the culprits to justice,” it added.
Detailing the timeline of the burglary, Muhammad Aurangzeb Haral, press counselor of PHC in Dhaka told Arab News: "It was on Thursday just after the closing of the official hour and the next two days were public holidays here in Dhaka. So, we noticed the incident on Sunday morning when we resumed office.”
He added that the incident which took place in the highly-sensitive diplomatic zone was “regrettable and a matter of grave concern for the diplomatic missions”. "It was not an ordinary incident,” he added.
In a letter to the Bangladesh Foreign ministry signed by the acting High Commissioner Sha Faisal Kakar, the mission had requested to beef up the security provided to foreign missions, diplomats and their supporting staff to thwart any other such incidents in future.
Several attempts were made by Arab News to contact the foreign ministry official for details of the incident, but all went unanswered.
Arab News obtained CCTV footage shows alleged burglars carrying boxes out of the Pakistani High Commission in Dhaka. The High Commission said on Tuesday that unidentified burglars broke into the Consular Section of the facility on Thursday, November 22 and stole computers which contained "official records and sensitive data." (Source: Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka)
