Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Khandkar Golam Faruq on Monday said they have taken foolproof security measures for smooth and peaceful observation of the National Mourning Day on Tuesday.
“We’ve taken coordinated and foolproof security measures for peaceful observance of the day, marking the 48th martyrdom anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman,” he said while talking to the journalists after visiting security arrangements at the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi-32 ahead of the National Mourning Day.
The DMP chief said everyone coming to pay homage at the Bangabandhu's portrait will have to pass through the police check posts and archway gates to ensure their safety and security.
“Everyone has to enter from the east gate of the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum and out from the west gate after paying homage to the portrait of Bangabandhu.
Visitors will not be allowed to carry any bag or other belongings,” he added.
In this regard, he urged the citizens to cooperate with the police on duty.
The security measures have been strengthened at places where public gatherings are likely to happen, including Bangabandhu Memorial Museum and Banani Graveyard, Faruq said.
He said that during the election year, check posts have been installed on roads as a preliminary preparation so that none can commit any kind of sabotage to embarrass the government and the police.
“Police surveillance has been increased in all the residential hotels and messes.
Detective Branch (DB) of police and the Cyber unit of the CTTC are constantly monitoring the cyber world to prevent any threat,” the commissioner said.
He said that till now there is no specific threat of terrorist attack, adding, “Although the militants are under control in Bangladesh, they have not been completely eradicated. Keeping these issues in mind, the overall security arrangements for the National Mourning Day have been arranged.”
Faruq sought all-out cooperation of the citizens so that the programme of the National Mourning Day will be observed with due dignity and solemnity throughout the city.
“Security plan has been taken for peaceful observance of each and every programme marking the day. Particularly, Dhanmondi-32 and its adjoining areas have been brought under unprecedented security surveillance with setting up of control rooms, archways and closed circuit cameras (CCTVs) as the President, the Prime Minister and other VIPS are expected to pay their respect to the portrait of Bangabandhu,” he said.
Adequate numbers of uniformed police have been deployed along with SWAT, bomb disposal units and plain-clothed police. Dog squads of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and Special Branch (SB) of police will sweep Bangabandhu Memorial Museum and Banani Graveyard to ensure foolproof security, he said.
Besides, senior officers will be stationed round the clock at the temporary control rooms to deal with any situation on the ground, the commissioner added.
Additional Commissioners AKM Hafiz Akhtar; Dr Khandkar Muhid Uddin, Md Ashrafuzzaman; Md Munibur Rahman; Chief of CTTC Md Asaduzzaman, Chief of the DB and Additional Commissioner Mohammad Harun or Rashid along with Joint Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners were present.
The commissioner said the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit will continue to monitor the activities of the militants in the cyber world through cyber patrolling.
He said August is a month of curse for the Bangali Nation as conspirators brutally killed Bangabandhu, Bangamata and most of his family members on August 15, 1975.
