Sagar Biswas :Special security measures have been taken ahead of holy Ramzan and Eid-ul Fitr in the capital and elsewhere in the country. This year, the month of Ramzan will begin on June 18 or 19 depending on sighting of the moon. The security measures would be tightened during the month following an intelligence report apprehending possible ‘sabotage’ activities of some militant groups, including Ansarullah Bangla Team [ABT], sources said.In this backdrop, the Inspector General [IG] of Police A K M Shahidul Hoque chaired a high-profile inter-departmental meeting of the law enforcing agencies at the police headquarters on Thursday. The meeting was also attended by chiefs of different police units, including CID, traffic, highway, railway, river, tourist and industrial, commissioners of different metropolitan police, including Dhaka Metropolitan Police [DMP], DIGs of six ranges, SPs and senior police officers.On the occasion, both uniformed and plainclothes security personnel will be deployed at all markets and other public spots to maintain law and order, officials said.”Police, Detective Branch and other units of law enforcement agencies will patrol the markets and other areas to ensure law and order. I urge the concerned officials to remain on high alert so that none can create law and order situation at that time, and people can celebrate their festival in a peaceful manner,” the IGP said. Sources at the police headquarters said the meeting discussed elaborately the overall law and order, security and safety of passengers during their journey by trains, buses and launches at that time. Besides, traffic control and management, security for Eid congregation and curbing the flow of fake currency during Ramzan were also discussed in the meeting.The IGP said, “The ongoing countrywide drives against formalin and chemical-soaked fruits and foods will continue.”Apart from taking special security measures to control extortion, mugging and other organized crimes, the meetings also decided to take all out measures against intoxicating drugs by strengthening drive against the narcotics items. “The police must show zero tolerance against intoxicating drugs,” the IGP said. Traffic control and management were also discussed in the meeting. The police chief also ordered the senior police officers to stop plying of slow vehicles like Nasiman, Kariman and Bhatbhati on the highways in order reduce traffic jam and accidents on the highways, sources said.The meeting also decided not to search vehicles without specific allegations on the highways for smooth movement of the vehicles.As per decision, the control rooms will remain open from July 8 to 10 at the police headquarters as well as all the police units, including district levels, to coordinate the movement of security officials.Meanwhile, selecting about 150 places as ‘sensitive,’ the policemen will start patrolling from today around the banks, financial institutions, VIP areas and posh shopping malls in the city. Besides, the DMP authorities have sent requests to all shopping malls, bank, financial institutions and other important places to keep the close circuit television cameras along with audio system operating.All the officers-in-charge [OCs] of the DMP police stations have been asked to take special measures to check burglaries, theft, robbery, mugging and other crimes during the period.
