Security has been tightened in Dhaka’s Gulshan-Banani diplomatic zone following emails sent to several embassies demanding money.

A senior official of the Diplomatic Security Division of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), speaking on condition of anonymity on Sunday said the diplomatic zone remains under constant surveillance as diplomats and other VIPs from different countries live in the area.

“Security can never be relaxed. Security measures in the diplomatic zone remain fully in place,” he said.

Asked about the emails demanding money from embassies, Chief of Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Detective Branch (DB) Additional Commissioner Md Shafiqul Islam said the emails were sent by a fake group with the intention of damaging the country’s image and embarrassing the government.

He made the remarks while answering to questions at a press briefing at the DMP Media Centre on Minto Road.

Asked about the emails demanding money from embassies, Shafiqul Islam said the group is operating online and that it was a fake group.

He said several bKash numbers were mentioned in the emails and police have brought three or four people associated with those numbers in for questioning.

However, they were found to be completely innocent and had no knowledge of the matter, he said.

The DB chief said three or four embassies as well as several government offices have received such emails.

No one has been arrested in connection with the incident so far, he said, adding that police are investigating the matter seriously.

“We are hopeful that we will uncover the incident and bring those involved to justice,” he said.