After a long pause, this year will mark two significant festivals taking place within a gap of only a couple of days - Eid-ul-Fitr & Pohela Boishakh. As much as the back-to-back festivals call for nationwide celebrations, it is also indispensable to introduce and ensure extra security measures all over.
As for Eid, we urge intelligence and law enforcement agencies concern to beef up security and surveillance activities across all major mosques and Eidgah premises in the country. Apart from Dhaka, need of the hour also demands to set up temporary checkpoints on all important roads in all metropolitan cities, district towns and Upazilas. Deploy extra forces in all major district towns, so to promptly deal with whatever unwarranted situation or terror attacks.
However, as for the Bengali New Year, Pohela Boishakh, the country witnessed the trauma and tragedy triggered by a militant group carrying out Ramna Batamul Blasts in 2001. Even though, Bangladesh hasn experienced anymore terror attacks subsequent to the Holey Artisan bloodbath in 2016, but there is none to pledge of no terror or militant attack to take place.
The world is passing through a critical phase against the backdrop of a number of regional military conflicts. In particular, Russian invasion of Ukraine and Israels brutal military campaign in Gaza continues to fuel communal and ethnic hatred all over the world.
Barely 2 weeks ago had a popular city hall in Moscow come under a raging terror attack. The onslaught resulted in 144 deaths with over 100 injured. Though a militant Islamist group has admitted responsibility, but isolated terror attacks are once more on the rise.
In order to ensure maximum security coverage, in terms of people and area, we advise our law enforcement and intelligence agencies to employ drones, cc TVs and round-the-clock helicopter patrolling. Highway police and RAB must concurrently increase their patrolling duties. Moreover, our tourist police must also expand their operations to provide security for foreign tourists.
However, the security threat is not purely restricted within the peripheries of festivals but goes beyond. Since the Eid exodus will result in millions leaving the cities, it is equally important to ensure security of respective houses.
Lest we forget, it is important to note that a sinister vested quarter is ever pro-active to destroy communal harmony in Bangladesh by launching terror and militant attacks - we must collectively prevent and root out this quarter.
Be it Eid-ul-Fitr or the first day of the Bengali calendar, our festivals are our cherished treasures - uniting our people, irrespective of class, creed and colour- we must all protect their sanctity. That said - ensuring strict security to protect our festivals is an important patriotic obligation.
