Staff Reporter :
Unprecedented security measures have made people’s life difficult affecting their regular works and business badly in the city.
In the wake of deadly terror attacks in city’s Gulshan café and Sholakia Eidgah maidan of Kishoreganj district security throughout capital Dhaka especially in Gulshan diplomatic enclave has been tightened.
Setting up check posts at most sensitive points in the city, the members of law enforcing agencies are now engaged in enforcing strict vigilance which in turn is harassing people in the name of ensuring security, it is alleged.
In most of the cases, altercation between the law enforcers and city dwellers, particularity the landlords, are taking place every day. The businessmen are facing the worst as they are being asked to take additional security measures as well as install Closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras at their respective business houses.
Besides, police also imposed a restriction on parking vehicles in front of the businesses establishments, including cafés, restaurants, coffee houses etcetera. As a result the business of residential hotels, restaurants, bars, shopping malls, banks, visa processing booths and traveling agencies are being hampered seriously. As the buyers, clients and customers are facing the same situation, they are refraining them from going there. Apart from these, the house owners are also under tremendous pressure by the members of law enforcement agencies as they are being interrogated about their tenants.
Police continued to raid houses, offices, business establishments and educational institutions against what they said ‘to curb terrorism and militancy’.
“The law enforcers continue to come my house and interrogate me about my tenants. Besides, they are asking me whether any foreigner resides my house. It is very painful to us,” a house owner alleged. He also said such unprecedented security measures also discourage the fresh tenants. “If such situation continues, our houses will remain vacant,” he said.
The law enforcer also continued to check all sorts of vehicles. Following the security measures, many people already have stopped going to residential hotels, restaurants, bars, shopping malls, money transaction centers and visa processing points and traveling agency booths to avoid unnecessary harassment of the law enforcers.
When contacted Alamgir Hossain, Assistant Director of Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) of Rajshahi office, said he already has cancelled his booking at Hotel Al Amin International near Bashunshara Residential area due to unprecedented security measures.
“I came to Dhaka to participate at a marriage ceremony at Bashundhara Convention Center but I’m staying at my relative’s house,” he said.
Ashraful Alam, a security guard of a restaurant in Gulshan 2 area, said people’s movement declined in the diplomatic zone, as it is now under scanner.
“The trade and business in the area are also being badly affected due to drastic fall in customers’ presence,” he said.
A manger of the United Hospital said that the patients and visitors in the hospital have lessened after the café attack.
Dilruba Khanam alias Sapna, resident of Mirpur said during her way on the United Hospital her private car was checked at 17 points. Rubel Hossain, an owner of money laundering point at ‘Shoppers World Market’ at Gulshan, said, “We are facing dull business due to poor presence of customers focusing extra security measures after the café attack.”
Masudur Rahman, Deputy Commissioner (Media) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) said that the tight security measures also have been taken on the request of different ministries, embassies, foreign organisations and individuals.
He also said that city dwellers must take it easily. The security measures have caused temporary problem to them.
DMP Assistant Commissioner (Gulshan zone) Sirazul Islam said, “We have taken all necessary security steps to ensure the safety of the people.”
“We’ve no alternative way to check the people and vehicles to avert the untoward attack,” the police official said.
