Zakir Hossain / Dhaka
Bangladesh will deploy special security arrangements at around 33,800 Durga Puja mandaps across the country this year, with round-the-clock monitoring at the national, divisional and district levels, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said on Wednesday. The government will also intensify its crackdown on extortionists, terrorists and armed criminals amid concerns over violence, land grabbing and extortion.
Speaking to reporters after a meeting at the Secretariat on security arrangements for Durga Puja, Salahuddin said police maintain regularly updated lists of terrorists, armed criminals, drug traders and extortionists. He said action was being taken against criminals regardless of their political affiliations.
“Special arrangements will be made to monitor around 33,800 puja mandaps across the country this year. Round-the-clock monitoring will be conducted at police headquarters as well as at district and divisional levels,” the minister said.
He said volunteers at puja mandaps would also be required to provide their names and telephone numbers to local police stations. Identity cards would be issued to them where necessary, he added.
The minister’s remarks came a day after 38 prominent citizens expressed concern over reported incidents of land and house grabbing, attacks and extortion in different parts of the country.
Salahuddin said there was no need to prepare a separate new list of criminals, as maintaining and regularly updating information on terrorists, armed criminals, drug traders and extortionists was already part of routine police work. He said ongoing operations against such elements would be intensified.
Responding to allegations that some land grabbing and extortion incidents had political backing, the minister said police were not taking action on the basis of anyone’s political identity. Complaints were being investigated impartially, he said.
He also said information received through the national emergency helpline 999 was being acted upon promptly, with arrests and criminal cases being initiated wherever necessary.
On the broader law-and-order situation, Salahuddin said the situation should not be assessed solely on the basis of one or two incidents. He maintained that the government and law-enforcement agencies were taking necessary steps to keep the situation under control.
The minister also ordered an investigation into clashes during an eviction drive in Dhaka’s Mirpur area, during which police and city corporation vehicles were reportedly set on fire.
Salahuddin said preliminary indications suggested that there may have been a lack of coordination among the police, magistracy officials, the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK) and the city corporation. However, he said the exact circumstances would be determined through the investigation.
The government has placed particular emphasis on security at Durga Puja venues as preparations for the festival continue across Bangladesh. The planned monitoring system is intended to maintain security at the thousands of mandaps where Hindu communities will observe the festival.