Security beefed up ahead of Durga Puja

 
Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said that the government has stepped up security for the upcoming Durga Puja, with 24-hour monitoring at police headquarters, divisional and district levels, while ongoing operations against extortionists, terrorists, armed individuals and other criminals will also be intensified.  

Speaking at a press briefing on Wednesday after a meeting at the Home Ministry on security and law and order during the upcoming Sharadiya Durga Puja he said impartial investigations were underway to determine whether any political link was involved in crimes. No one would be spared regardless of the political party an offender belongs to. 

Salahuddin said preparing lists of extortionists was part of the police's routine operations. Police also maintain lists of terrorists, criminals, drug dealers and armed individuals, and regularly update them.

“Actions against criminals are ongoing and will be further intensified,” he said, adding that the government treats criminals as criminals regardless of their political affiliations.

He said action was being taken within 24 hours of receiving a complaint. After receiving a call on the 999 emergency number, police promptly reach the scene, make arrests and register cases. 

He cited an incident involving land grabbing in the Matikata area, where police arrested the accused immediately after receiving a call on the 999 helpline.

Regarding the Radda Clinic incident in Mirpur, the Home Minister said a police officer was immediately withdrawn and departmental action was initiated against him over alleged negligence of duty.

He said an investigation was also underway to determine whether any Member of Parliament was involved in the incident. Anyone found to be involved would face action, he said.

Regarding the attack on Salman Muqtadir's studio, Salahuddin said police must conduct a preliminary investigation before formally registering a case after receiving a complaint.

He clarified that no case had been filed in the name of the person who claimed to have lodged the complaint. Instead, the case was filed by a director of the real estate company acting as its representative.

On the allegation of extortion, the minister said no such incident had taken place and the man himself had confirmed this. He also said no extortion money had been demanded from him.

The incident is being investigated impartially, he said. Everyone involved, whether associated with New Guinea Properties or the adjacent land, is being brought under investigation and swift legal action will be taken.

The minister also acknowledged a lack of coordination between the duty magistrate and police during clashes with hawkers, vandalism of a police van and the torching of vehicles during a city corporation eviction drive in Mirpur.

According to preliminary information, the duty magistrate did not communicate properly with the police, resulting in a lack of coordination, he said.

Instructions have been issued to investigate the matter, he said, adding that communication among the magistrate, police, City Corporation, RAJUK and other relevant agencies is also being examined.

Salahuddin said it would be inappropriate to assess the country's overall law and order situation based on one or two isolated incidents.

The government is working to ensure public safety and social harmony, he said.

Regarding Durga Puja, the Home Minister said religious harmony and amity prevail in the country.

This year, Durga Puja will be celebrated at approximately 33,851 puja mandaps, a record number and about 1,500 more than last year.

The special app developed by the National Telecommunications Monitoring Centre (NTMC), which was previously used during the national election, will be used to ensure security at the puja mandaps.

Necessary training will be provided at the district level for using the app, he said.

Twenty-four-hour monitoring teams will remain active at Police Headquarters and at divisional and district levels.

Lists of volunteers at each puja mandap will be verified by the respective police stations before the volunteers are issued ID cards.