Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mainul Islam directed all police officials to ensure tight security during the upcoming Sharadiya Durga Puja, one of the largest festivals of the Hindus. "Police officials will ensure security at all Puja Mondops at the highest level of alert," he told a meeting on law and order and security during Durga Puja at the Hall of Pride in the Police Headquarters on Monday (Sep 23), local media reported.
Presiding over the meeting, the IGP said, a three-tier security has been taken in observance of the puja. "Police must remain vigilant to avert any untoward incident centering the puja celebration and cyber monitoring team has been asked to remain alert to prevent spread any kind of rumours in social media," he added.
Director General of Rapid Action (RAB) AKM Shahidur Rahman, Special Branch chief Md Shah Alam, Additional Inspector General of Police (Addl-IGP) Abu Hasan Muhammad Tarique, Addl-IGP of Highway Police Md Shahabuddin Khan, Addl-IGP of River Police Mohammad Abdul Alim Mahmud, DMP Commissioner Md Mainul Hasan, all chiefs of police units in Dhaka, Bangladesh Hindu Bouddha Christian Oikkya Parisad President Nirmal Rozario, Acting General Secretary Manindra Kumar Nath, Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parisad President Basudeb Dhar, General Secretary Shontosh Sharma, Mahanagar Sarbojanin Puja Committee President Jayonta Kumar Deb, General Secretary Taposh Chandra Shil, Ramkrishna Math and Mission Swami Kalpesananda and representatives from different intelligence agencies joined the meeting.
The IGP requested Puja Celebration Committee leaders to contact the national emergency service number 999 or nearby police stations on any emergency needs. He said miscreants usually try to create untoward incidents at the puja mandaps either midnight or at the last night. The IGP urged the Puja Udjapan Parishad leaders to keep CCTV/IP cameras active during the puja and ensure round-the-clock security through volunteers along with the law enforcers at each puja mandap. "The upcoming Durga Puja will be celebrated across the country with duer eligious fervour and traditional enthusiasm maintaining communal harmony", he said.
Sharadiya Durga Puja will begin on Oct 9 with Maha Sasthi at 32,666 puja mandaps across the country this year. The Puja will end on Oct 13 on Bijoya Dashami with the immersion of idols of goddess Durga.