Foolproof security measures have been taken across the country on the occasion of the Durga Puja, the biggest religious festival of the Bengali Hindu community. Additional number of personnel from police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and Ansar other law enforcement agencies have been deployed in and around all the puja premises to ensure a full-proof security.
Besides, closed-circuit television cameras (CCTVs), archways and metal detectors have been installed at all puja mandaps to avert any untoward incident. The five-day religious festival, which has begun on Friday, will come to an end with the immersion of idols of goddess Durga on October 8. This year, Durga Puja will be celebrated at 31,398 permanent and temporary puja mandaps across the country, said the parishad.
The number of Puja mandaps this year has increased by 483 from last year’s 30,915. RAB director general Benazir Ahmed on Friday said they have undertaken all kinds of security measures so that everyone can observe the festivities across the country peacefully. "To avoid any unpleasant activities in the puja mandaps, we have deployed our bomb disposal unit and dog squads to swipe the grounds," the RAB DG said.
RAB will be present to prevent any sort of militant activities. "A check-post will be set up at all intersections in front of puja mandaps, and raids will be conducted if we are alerted of any suspicious activities." Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Md Shafiqul Islam has said they do not have any information regarding any threat during Durga Puja.
He made the statement while inspecting the premises of Dhakeshwari Temple on Thursday. The DMP commissioner said, "We are fully prepared to tackle any kind of violence during puja. We do not have any information of any threats during this festival. Separate teams will be deployed to ensure security at all puja mandaps and everything will be monitored through the police control room."
