Dhaka: The planned visit of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) President Shinichi Kitaoka to Bangladesh has been ‘postponed’ as Japan wants to take more time to see ‘convincingly improvement’ in security environment.

The JICA chief was scheduled to visit Dhaka on 6-7 August to thoroughly assess the situation on the ground after the Dhaka café tragedy and discuss future cooperation with the Bangladesh leadership.

During the visit, Kitaoka was scheduled to meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Finance Minister AMA Muhith, Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali and Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan to discuss issues of mutual interest, with the security issue being on the top.

Japanese nationals who went home on vacation after 1 July attack on Holey Artisan Bakery are yet to return to Bangladesh, a diplomatic source told UNB conveying the postponement of JICA chief’s visit.

The vacation of the Japanese nationals, working in Bangladesh in different fields, has been extended twice, said the source adding that they have been advised lately to stay back home until 15 August.

Japanese authorities will take a decision about deploying their personnel at field level in various projects after further reviewing the security situation in Bangladesh, sources said.

An official at the Home Ministry said the government has taken all necessarily steps for the safety of foreign nationals in Bangladesh.

The Home Ministry also directed the police headquarters to ensure foolproof security in JICA office in Dhaka, various project areas, officials of Japanese Embassy in Dhaka.

JICA Vice President recently wrote a letter to Bangladesh government seeking adequate security measures for Japanese nationals which was sent to different ministries, including Finance Minister AMA Muhith.

Seven Japanese people were killed and one was injured in the terrorist attack on the Holey Artisan Bakery in the city’s diplomatic zone, Gulshan, on 1 July.

The eight Japanese nationals were consultants engaged in survey work for JICA and they were participating in a preparatory survey related to an infrastructure project to improve the urban transit situation in Dhaka, where traffic is rapidly increasing.

In October last year, another Japanese man was killed in northwest Bangladesh and the government elevated safety measures and JICA has also been alerting all JICA-related personnel to the danger.

On 6 July, the JICA President in a statement said they at JICA will continue giving top priority to the safety of JICA personnel and thoroughly assessing the situation in the places where they do their work.