In a major move, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) on Saturday imposed a ban on holding any rally, meeting and taking out procession in the capital for an indefinite period with effect from 6:00 am on Sunday. The ban will remain in force until further notice, according to a notification signed by the DMP Commissioner, Benazir Ahmed. The DMP imposed the ban apparently to avoid any showdown between the Awami League (AL)-led grand alliance and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)-led 18-party Opposition alliance. Earlier, both alliances had called for holding mega rallies in Dhaka city on October 25.
The DMP Commissioner said several rival political parties had declared various programmes in the city from Sunday. It was felt that the law and order situation might deteriorate and pose a threat to public safety.
The DMP Commissioner sought the cooperation of all in maintaining law and order and ensuring public safety in the metropolitan areas.
Meanwhile, the Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) is on high alert to combat any subversive activities by BNP and Jamaat-Shibir activists following the Prime Minister’s address to the nation. The intelligence wing of the CMP is also keeping some of the Opposition leaders under close watch.
Although there was no reaction from the Opposition on Friday night, the CMP decided to continue with the “high alert” fearing violence after the Opposition does give its reaction later this evening.
The Chittagong District Police has deployed additional forces at vulnerable points in 14 upazilas of the district. There were special security arrangements at sensitive Sitakunda and Satkania upazilas fearing violent reaction by the Jamaat-Shibir.
Sources in the CMP said more than 250 members of the reserve police were deployed at 12 places, including the BNP office Nasimon Bhaban, from Friday afternoon, hours ahead of the PM’s address and it was continuing till Saturday evening. Besides, there were at least five mobile teams in all police station areas of the CMP.
A team of 20 Special Reserve Force (SRF) have been deployed at each of the points, including Nasimon Bhaban, Kazir Dewri, WASA Intersection, Prabartak Intersection, AK Khan Intersection, Agrabad, Barek Building Intersection, Oxygen Intersection, Tiger Pass Intersection, Bahaddarhat Intersection, Chalkbazar and CEPZ Intersection. More members of the reserve police have been kept ready at the police lines to react to any emergency call.
The CMP authorities decided to continue with the “high alert” security arrangement as the BNP led 18-party alliance is supposed to express its reaction and declare its future course of action.
Banaj Kumar Majumder, additional commissioner (crime and administration), said: “We are monitoring the situation and our personnel are on high alert to avoid any violence. All 16 police stations in the city have been instructed to be alert to react quickly to any kind of violence.”
Hafiz Akter, superintendent of the Chittagong District Police, said a good number additional forces have been deployed at most vulnerable points of different upazilas in the district. “All police stations are on high alert,” he said, adding that the police are ready to combat any kind of violence. A senior official of the CMP, preferring anonymity, said the intelligence wing of the CMP has kept some of the BNP-Jamaat leaders under close watch and is monitoring their movement to stall any kind of subversive move by the party activists.
“We feared that the BNP would react immediately after the PM’s address but no such thing happened. However, the Awami League and its wings brought out processions in different wards of the city hailing the PM’s address”, he added.
-With The Independent input
