<div style="text-align: justify; "><b style="font-size: 1rem;">The United States has said the safety and security of their diplomatic personnel and facilities are of utmost importance.</b><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“So, I’m not going to get into the specifics about security details concerning the U.S. embassy or its personnel,” Vedant Patel, principal deputy spokesperson for the US Department of State, said during a press briefing on May 15 (US time) at the State Department while responding to a question.&nbsp; &nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">He, however, noted that as per the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, any host country “must uphold its obligations to ensure the protection of all diplomatic mission premises and personnel and take all appropriate steps to prevent any attack on personnel.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Patel made the remarks after Bangladesh decided not to provide additional security escorts for a number of foreign diplomats, including the US and UK envoys, in Dhaka.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen yesterday said, “If they want it, they can get it in exchange for payment. We won’t provide this extra (security) escort service with taxpayers’ money.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“In developed countries, no government provides such extra facilities,” Momen said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The minister said there has been no deterioration of the law and order situation that such service is required. UNB</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/kh</div>