England arrives in Bangladesh amid tight security

England's ODI squad arrived at Dhaka on Friday amidst a dense security cover. The first ODI begins at Dhaka on October 7.

Security personnel keep watch in front of Shahjalal International Airport as England cricket team arrives in Dhaka.

England’s One-Day International cricket side arrived in the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka on Friday amid huge security for a three-match series.

The visiting side landed at Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport shortly before 9.00 pm local time and was immediately surrounded by a big security presence, police said.

Short stop off on our way to Bangladesh! >pic.twitter.com/fdvj63b6VY

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) >September 30, 2016

“Huge number of security personnel were deployed here at the airport for the visiting England side,” said airport police chief Nur-e-Azam.

“In addition to regular security forces, members of other forces including the elite Rapid Action Battalion and police were deployed in providing security to the visiting side,” he said.

Hossain Imam, chief security consultant of the Bangladesh Cricket Board, confirmed that the visiting side was escorted to a hotel under heavy protection.

Bangladesh authorities had earlier promised England’s cricketers “unprecedented security” in a desperate attempt to prevent the country from becoming a no-go zone for international sport.

England’s tour, which also comprises two Tests, was thrown into doubt after an attack on a cafe in Dhaka in July that killed 18 foreigners, many of whom were mostly hacked to death, by suspected Islamist militants.

Some members of the England Test team will arrive in the coming days.