'Australian security concerns baseless'

Dhaka, Sep 27: Bangladesh Home Minister Assaduzzaman Khan Kamal on Sunday dismissed the Australian cricket squad’s security concerns over playing in the country as "baseless".

Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) issued the warning on Friday, saying militants posed a potential security risk, reports bdnews24.com.

As a follow-up, the Australian cricket team on Saturday postponed its planned departure to Bangladesh.

They were due to fly out of Sydney on Monday morning for the three-week tour, which includes two Test matches.

“An Australian organisation has expressed its concerns. But it is a baseless concern,” he told jourlists at his secretariat office here.

“India, Pakistan, South Africa and many other countries have come and played intertiol matches here. There were no problems.”

The DFAT, which provides travel advice to Australians planning to go abroad, in its notice said, "There is reliable information to suggest that militants may be planning to target Australian interests in Bangladesh." IANS