Staff Reporter :
Searches of vehicles and passengers by the law enforcement agencies were continued on the different important entrance, including the Aminbazar, Savar, Jatrabari, and Keraniganj of the capital on Thursday ahead of the rally of BNP on 28 October.
As part of initiatives, RAB and police have set up checkposts and intensified stop and search operations at Aminbazar, a gateway to the capital.
In this issue, Additional Superintendent Police Superintendent (Savar Circle) Md Shahidul Islam told the media that as there are gatherings of two major political parties in the capital on the 28th, we want to ensure no harmful activities or disruptions occur.
That’s why this police checkpoint operation is in progress to secure the area.
Besides, the elite force Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and the Dhaka district traffic police are also jointly conducting searches of vehicles along a stretch of the Dhaka-Aricha highway near Jahangirnagar University in Savar. The Dhamrai police are also searching vehicles at Islampur in Dhamrai.
On Thursday morning, members of RAB and Dhaka district traffic police were seen jointly halting various Dhaka-bound vehicles and questioning the drivers along the Dhaka-Aricha
highway near Jahangirnagar University.
The RAB and police members were also checking the valid papers of the vehicles. They questioned the drivers about the fitness of the vehicles and the validity of their licences.
They allowed vehicles with the valid papers to pass and taken legal action against those without the required documents. The drive was led by RAB-4 CPC-2 squad commander ASP Sajjadur Rahman.
In this regard, Sajjadur Rahman said that they often carry out such drives. He said that the searches carried out from Thursday morning were part of the routine drives. A number of Dhaka district traffic police personnel were also assisting in the job.
In addition, police of the Dhamrai police station had set up a check post on the Dhaka-Aricha highway at Islampur in Dhamrai and searched vehicles on Thursday morning. They checked the papers of the vehicles.
Meanwhile, several teams of RAB-10 conducted search operations in Ikuria area on the south side of Bangladesh-China friendship Buriganga first bridge on Thursday afternoon.
At that time, the captain of RAB-10 and additional DIG Mohammad Fariduddin told reporters that RAB members have been doing robust patrolling throughout the country for two months. Security has been strengthened to prevent any kind of anarchy around the rally in Dhaka. Checkpoints have been set up in several areas including city’s Jatrabari, Srinagar, Keraniganj and Munshiganj district.
In this regards, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Joint Commissioner Biplob Kumar Sarker said, “No permission will be granted for holding rallies on the streets. They will have to select a playgrounds or opens space and submit an application with mention of the selected location,” he told this to the media at the DMP Headquarters on Thursday.
He also revealed that the ruling party has been asked to find an alternative venue for their rally. All political parties seeking permission for rallies have been instructed to avoid the streets and find open spaces to minimise public sufferings.
“It might be an open field. All have been asked to inform the DMP after choosing their respective venues,” he added.
It was learnt that Awami League leaders and activists are keeping vigil with processions in every police station-ward of the capital. Instructions have been given in this regard in each police station-ward of Dhaka Metropolitan North and South Awami League. Similar guidelines are in place for affiliated organizations as well.
On 19 October, the BNP announced a grand rally in the capital on 28 October, the ruling Awami League announced a counter-rally on the same day.