Police have taken special security measures for Christmas – the biggest religious festival of Christian community, and New Year’s Eve.
Christmas will be celebrated on 25 December, while New Year’s Eve is on 31 December. A meeting on security and law and order was held on Wednesday at the Police Headquarters, with Inspector General of Police Baharul Alam presiding.
Present at the meeting, leaders of the Christian community expressed satisfaction with security measures taken by the police and thanked the administration.
They expressed optimism that, with cooperation from everyone concerned, Christmas would be celebrated in a festive atmosphere while maintaining religious solemnity, as in previous years.
Welcoming the Christian community leaders, Baharul said Christmas was a universal festival and that police were on high alert centring the celebrations.
The IGP expressed hope that, with the existing capacity of Bangladesh Police, Christmas and New Year’s Eve could be celebrated peacefully.
Police would take all necessary measures after reviewing the overall security situation during Christmas and New Year’s Eve.
Immediate legal action would be taken against any individual or group attempting to disrupt communal harmony by uploading misleading posts, comments or images on social media during the festivities.
Cyber monitoring would be strengthened to prevent the spread of rumours.
The meeting requested concerned authorities to ensure adequate lighting, standby generators or rechargeable lights and the deployment of volunteers under organisers’ arrangements, alongside law enforcement, to ensure security at churches across the country.
Security will also be tightened in all tourist destinations, including Cox’s Bazar and Kuakata, during New Year’s Eve.
Action will be taken against those using loud vehicle horns or driving cars or motorbikes recklessly.
The meeting urged people to seek assistance from the National Emergency Service 999 and concerned beat police officers in case of any emergency.
Among others, Rapid Action Battalion Director General AKM Shahidur Rahman, additional inspectors general and senior officials of Police Headquarters, St Mary’s Cathedral Church parish priest Father Albert Rosario, Bangladesh Christian Association President Nirmal Rosario, Joint Secretary General James Subrata Hazra and Public Relations and Communications Secretary Apu Placid Madhu, and Christian Co-operative Credit Union Limited President Michael John Gomez and Secretary Manju Maria Palma were present.
All police commissioners, range deputy inspectors general and district superintendents of police joined the meeting online.
