Joynal Abedin Khan :Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has decided to provide highest security for the puja mandaps especially in the city’s diplomatic zones in Gulshan and Banani areas.Besides, the law enforcing agencies, including RAB, will also decided to ensure extra safeguard for the foreign visitors at Puja pandals across the country.RAB Director General (DG) Benazir Ahmed has assured about the measures while visiting the puja mandap at Banani playground on Monday. He said Gulshan and Banani puja mandaps will get the highest security as many foreigners come to visit the places. “We will always remain alert during all special occasions, including religious, cultural and social, as the miscreants try to take the opportunity of public gathering in festivals to carry out their criminal activities,” the DG said. The law enforcers will also put importance to avoid any harassment of people, he said.When asked about the progress of Italian national Cesare Tavella murder case, he said investigation is under process.Meanwhile, Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Asaduzzaman Mia on Sunday said that highest security measures have been taken to ensure smooth celebration of holy Ashura and Durga Puja.”Some 6,803 policemen will be deployed for ensuring security of puja mandaps while 2,500 others for Tajia processions on the day of Holy Ashura in the capital. Plain-clothes police will also be posted alongside the uniformed one,” he told the reporters in a briefing on security for Durga Puja and Ashura at the DMP Media Centre.Durga Puja, the biggest religious festival of the Hindu community, began on Sunday and will end on the mid-night of October 22 through the immersion of idols, while the holy Ashura, a religious mourning day for the Muslims, will be observed on October 24.The DMP Commissioner, however, said that though the intelligence agencies have no specific information about any subversive activities centering on the two religious festivals, they have taken all-out security measures keeping in mind all possible threats.”We don’t rule out any possible subversive or criminal activities. So, we’ve taken the widespread security measures keeping those in mind,” he said.He, however, urged the city dwellers to help the law enforcers by providing information regarding any possible subversive or criminal activities so that they can take instant actions in this regard. According to the DMP boss, all the visitors have to go through archways to enter any important puja mandap like in Siddheswari Temple, Dhakeshawri Temple and Banani Puja Mandap, while visitors in small puja mandaps will have to face checking of metal detectors.Besides, CCTVs have already been installed in every important puja mandap as part of the security measures, he said.The DMP Commissioner urged the Hindu community to immerse idols before 6:00pm on October 23.
