Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has said that the name of a lawmaker has surfaced in connection with the attack, vandalism and looting at the Radda centre in Mirpur, and that the matter is currently under investigation by the police and other relevant agencies.
He also said the government has taken the highest level of security measures to ensure the safety of Durga Puja celebrations across the country.
Law enforcement agencies will maintain round-the-clock surveillance, while uninterrupted electricity supply has also been arranged for the festivities, he said at the Secretariat on Wednesday after a meeting on security arrangements for Durga Puja.
The government has not yet received any information regarding attacks on Puja mandaps, he added.
Salahuddin said the list of alleged extortionists had not been newly prepared but rather updated.
“Criminals are criminals,” he said, adding that law enforcement agencies are taking action against those involved in criminal activities regardless of their political affiliation.
He said that if anyone labels the BNP as an extortionist organisation based on allegations against an individual, such claims would be politically motivated, as the actions of an individual should not be attributed to the party as a whole.
It would be inappropriate to assess the overall law and order situation of the country based on one or two isolated incidents, he added.
Isolated incidents should not be used to judge the country’s overall security situation, he further said.
The minister informed that Durga Puja will be observed at 33,851 mandaps across the country, including 259 in Dhaka city. Strict security measures and surveillance will be in place at all venues. The government had increased financial allocations for Puja celebrations this year.
Leaders of the Puja Udjapan Parishad informed the minister about several recent incidents, including attacks on temples, vandalism of idols and the harassment of several individuals. In response, he assured them that appropriate action would be taken.
