Dhaka’s 257 Puja Mandaps under tight security
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Mosleh Uddin Ahmed on Thursday said comprehensive security measures had been taken to ensure peaceful, safe and festive celebrations of Sharadiya Durga Puja in the capital.
“Sharadiya Durga Puja is one of the major religious festivals of the Hindu community. Police will maintain security of puja mandops round the clock,” he said at a press briefing at Dhakeshwari National Temple.
A total of 257 puja mandaps will host the festival in Dhaka this year, with 2,072 police personnel from different ranks to be deployed in addition to their regular duties, he said.
Ahmed said the mandaps had been divided into four categories based on their importance, the number of devotees and visitors, and the overall security situation.
Law enforcement personnel had been instructed to remain alert around the clock. CCTV cameras would monitor security at puja venues and surrounding areas, while archways had been installed at the entrances of important mandaps to improve security screening, he added.
“We have installed archways at the entrances of important mandaps to facilitate more effective security screening,” the commissioner said.
Police personnel from different DMP units would work in coordination to maintain security, he said. Regular patrols would be conducted around the mandaps, with close surveillance of suspicious individuals and objects. Preparations had also been made to respond swiftly to any untoward incident.
SWAT, explosive recovery and bomb disposal teams, the dog squad and the crime scene unit would remain on standby round the clock to deal with emergencies, Ahmed said.
Regarding the immersion of idols on Bijoya Dashami, he said a special security plan had been drawn up. The procession would begin at Dhakeshwari National Temple and end at Waizeghat, with additional police personnel deployed along the route.
The commissioner also said cyber monitoring had been strengthened to prevent rumours, misinformation and disinformation on social media that could create confusion during Durga Puja.
He urged people to report suspicious incidents or security-related information to the nearest police station or the national emergency service at 999.
Ahmed stressed the need for cooperation among law enforcement agencies, puja celebration committees, temple management committees, volunteers and residents to ensure a safe and peaceful festival.
He also urged devotees and visitors to follow security guidelines and cooperate with police personnel on duty, expressing hope that the festival would be celebrated peacefully in a festive atmosphere.
Additional Police Commissioners Md Abul Bashar Talukder, Md Shafiqul Islam, Mohammad Shamsul Haque and Mohammad Osman Gani, along with other DMP officials and leaders of puja celebration committees, attended the briefing.
