Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Sheikh Md Sajjat Ali on Sunday said that the DMP has taken foolproof security measures to ensure a festive atmosphere during the Sharadiya Durga Puja, the biggest religious festival of the country’s Hindu community.
He made the remarks while addressing a press briefing at the Dhakeshwari National Temple on Sunday afternoon.
The DMP Commissioner said that this year Durga Puja will be held at 254 mandaps across the capital. Considering the importance, size, and gatherings of devotees, the mandaps have been categorised into four classes, with round-the-clock police deployment. In addition, CCTV monitoring has been arranged in and around the mandaps, while archways have been set up at the entry points of key mandaps, he said.
He said that SWAT, the Explosive Recovery and Bomb Disposal Team, Dog Squad, and Crime Scene Unit will remain on standby to tackle any emergency. A separate security plan has been taken for the immersion procession on Vijaya Dashami, which will begin from Dhakeshwari National Temple and end at Wiseghat. Additional police forces will be deployed to ensure its smooth observance.
Responding to a question, the commissioner said there is no security threat centering this year’s festival. “If any miscreant tries to disrupt the prevailing environment, they will be collectively resisted,” he added, noting that cyber monitoring has also been strengthened to prevent the spread of misinformation or disinformation.
He expressed hope that this year’s Sharadiya Durga Puja will be celebrated in a more festive and joyous manner than in the past.
Later, the DMP commissioner visited the Dhakeshwari National Temple and exchanged greetings with leaders of Bangladesh Puja Udjapon Parishad, the Metropolitan Sarbojonin Puja Committee, and the temple management committee.
Among others, Additional Commissioner (Administration) of the DMP Md Sarwar, Additional Commissioner (Crime and Operations) S N Md Nazrul Islam, Additional Police Commissioner (CTTC) Md Masud Karim, Additional Police Commissioner (DB) Md Shafiqul Islam, and along with other senior officials of DMP, were present.