BSS, Dhaka :Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan yesterday said extra security steps were ordered for Eid congregation across the country alongside intensified vigil on shopping malls, highways and other venues of public gatherings during the Eid-ul-Azha.”Adequate number of security forces will be deployed for security at Eid congregations in the capital and major congregation sites in the country,” he told newsmen after a meeting on law and order at his ministry conference room at Bangladesh Secretariat.The minister said a total of 23 makeshift cattle markets would be set up in specific places of the capital ahead of the Eid those would be equipped with fake currency detecting devices. “Law enforcement agencies will provide security to cattle traders . . . if they want the security for carrying their money police will extend their hands,” he said. Khan, however, said most shopping malls owners already installed metal detectors, security archways and CCTVs own their own. Home secretary Dr Mozammel Haque Khan, Inspector General of Police (IGP) AKM Shahidul Hoque, directors general of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) Major General Aziz Ahmed, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) Benazir Ahmed and Coast Guard Rear Admiral Aurangzeb Chowdhury, DMP commissioner Asaduzzaman Miah and representatives of fire brigade, ansar and other departmentsconcerned joined the meeting. The minister said makeshift watchdogs would be erected on highways and 15 of those would be there on Dhaka-Tangail highway alone to monitor vehicular movements as part of initiatives tosmoothen home-bound passengers’ journey. For the security in water routes, he said, 86 rescue teams inducing fire service divers would be kept ready at Mawa and Paturia ferry terminals to respond to any emergency situation. The minister also said volunteers would also be deployed to assist law enforcers during the Eid festival.He urged all garments and tannery owners to pay salary and bonus to their workers before September 10 ahead of the Eid-ul-Azha so thousands of RMG workers could go their hometown for celebrating the Eid with families and close relatives. The minister also urged the authorities concerned to grant their workers Eid-ul-Azha leave in alternate phases to avoid traffic jam on the highway.
