The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) is on high alert to ensure security during this year’s Sharadiya Durga Puja, with more than 2,000 additional police personnel set to be deployed at 257 puja mandaps across the capital.
DMP Commissioner Mosleh Uddin Ahmed said all potential threats were being taken seriously to prevent any untoward incident during the festival.
“We are taking every possible threat seriously to ensure that no untoward situation arises during the festival,” he said on Friday after inspecting security arrangements at Dhakeshwari National Temple.
Describing Durga Puja as one of the major religious festivals of Hindu community, the commissioner said the annual celebration brought joy and enthusiasm to the capital and fostered communal harmony.
The DMP has taken all necessary measures to ensure that the festival is celebrated peacefully and in a safe, festive atmosphere, he said.
This year, 257 puja mandaps will host celebrations in Dhaka. Based on the importance of each venue, expected crowds and the overall security situation, the mandaps have been divided into four categories.
Police will maintain round-the-clock security at the venues, with 2,100 personnel deployed in addition to their regular duties, the commissioner said.
Security at the mandaps and surrounding areas will be monitored 24 hours a day through CCTV and body-worn cameras. Archways have also been installed at key entrances to facilitate security checks.
The commissioner said police personnel from different DMP units had been instructed to work in coordination to ensure security throughout the festival.
Regular patrols will be conducted around the mandaps, while police will keep a close watch on suspicious individuals and objects.
The DMP’s Special Weapons And Tactics (SWAT) team, bomb disposal unit, dog squad and crime scene unit will remain ready to respond to emergencies.
The DMP has drawn up a special security plan for the immersion of Durga idols on Bijoya Dashami, the commissioner said.
The procession will begin at Dhakeshwari Temple and end at Wiseghat. Additional police personnel will be deployed based on the procession route, crowd size and overall security situation.
The DMP will coordinate with the organisers to ensure the procession proceeds smoothly and public movement remains normal, he added.
Reassuring residents, Mosleh Uddin Ahmed said the DMP was maintaining the highest level of alert to protect the festival’s peaceful atmosphere.
Any attempt to undermine communal harmony or disrupt the celebrations would be resisted through coordinated action, and law enforcement agencies would take necessary legal measures, he said.
He said DMP has also strengthened its cyber monitoring activities to prevent rumours, false information and misinformation from spreading on social media during the festival.
He urged residents not to share information on social media without verifying its accuracy.
He also asked the public to report suspicious incidents or security-related information promptly to the nearest police station or relevant law enforcement agency.
Asked whether recent incidents, including crude bomb explosions at different locations in the capital ahead of December, raised concerns about possible sabotage during Durga Puja, the commissioner said the DMP had received no information indicating a specific threat linked to the festival.
“We have no information so far suggesting any threat of sabotage or attempts to create panic during this Puja. However, we are prepared to firmly suppress any attempt at sabotage or to spread fear,” he said.
The commissioner said nine major puja mandaps in Dhaka would each have 50 personnel from the police and Ansar deployed for security. Personnel at other venues would be assigned according to the categories of the mandaps.
He added that CCTV cameras installed at all 257 puja mandaps had been connected to the DMP control room, allowing officers to monitor the situation at every venue around the clock.
Police personnel deployed at the mandaps had also been equipped with body-worn cameras, enabling live monitoring from the control room, he said.
