The government has ordered all law enforcing agencies to show zero tolerance policy against BNP-Jamaat sponsored terrorism as the next parliamentary election is knocking at the door.
Getting instruction from the government high-ups, security forces are taking extra security measures to protect lives and properties of the common people.
Law enforcers are also enhancing strict vigilance to resist any attempts of escalating violence, mainly targeting public and private vehicles and important government installations across the country.
Hailing the government’s initiatives for strengthening security arrangement during the BNP-Jamaat led atrocities, most of the common people said, citizens should also discharge their responsibilities by denouncing terrorism in the name of realizing the unconstitutional demand of caretaker government.
Freedom fighter Abdul Bashed and his wife Rasheda Akter came to the capital city from Manikganj town on Monday to complete their visa processing.
‘’I had to come a day before of our scheduled program fearing the political violence. We stayed at our relative’s residence in city’s Banasree area,’’ he described.
We were very worried how to reach visa processing center at Gulshan. However, I noticed police have well secured the area and my worries are almost gone.’’
Bashed, who is a retired government official, said, “I noticed deployment of huge number of law enforcing agencies on the way to Gulshan from Banasree area.”
Bashed thanked the government for taking such security measures for the common people. Many people like Bashed have expressed similar satisfaction over the security measures.
The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) started taking proactive measures to maintain law and order by deploying 228 platoons across the country.
Shariful Islam, public relations officer at the BGB headquarters, confirmed this deployment.
27 BGB platoons were stationed in Dhaka and its neighbouring districts to prevent any untoward incidents.
BGB security forces performed their duties alongside the police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and Ansar to ensure security in Dhaka and other parts of the country.
The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) also mobilized more than 300 teams for nationwide patrols during the blockades. Intelligence surveillance was also in effect during the time.
228 platoons of BGB deployed to maintain normalcy
65,000 Ansar personnel to protect public places like railway stations, bus stands, launch terminals and other important installations
300 RAB teams to thwart anarchists
These security measures were aimed to safeguard lives, property, and state assets, ensuring normalcy in public life.
It emphasised that any individuals planning sabotage or violence will be promptly identified and subjected to legal action.
In addition to the patrol teams, RAB's special teams and striking force are on standby to address any violent situations.
Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defense Forces are also on high alert to keep the rail, road and river communication uninterrupted during blockade. Some 65 thousand Ansar and VDP members were deployed across the country.
Ansar VDP members were deployed to protect the security of railway stations, bus stands, launch ghats, public and other important public places in mostly small towns and cities.
General Ansar and VDP members are keeping a watchful eye on railway stations, bus stands and launch ghats to ensure that no untoward incident takes place, especially on railway lines. Around 10,000 Ansar-VDP members were deployed at 1,476 points across the country to protect railway lines.
Apart from this, 55,000 members of Ansarare engaged in the security of 5,296 different public and private institutions.
Meanwhile, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Habibur Rahman on Monday announced a Tk20,000 reward for help in nabbing arsonists with information amid nationwide arson attacks.
“If anyone can help the police catch the perpetrators with evidence, they will be given Tk 20,000 as reward,’’ he announced.
Meanwhile, BNP-Jamaat terrors set fire on at least eight vehicles in different locations across the country from 11:30pm last night to 6:00am amid the countrywide blockade, the fire service said.
BNP-Jamaat caders torched a bus in the capital's Hazaribaghat around 11:30pm Sunday night, a staff bus of Biman Bangladesh Airlines in Jurain at 12:36am, a human hauler in Mugda at 1:27am, and a truck in Motijheel at 5:48am.
BNP-Jamaat activists also set fire to two buses in Gazipur at 2:11am and 5:18am while a bus and a CNG-run auto-rickshaw were torched in Chattogram at 5:05am and 5:45am respectively.
BNP-Jamaat men torched a total of 18 vehicles including 13 buses from 4:00amSunday including 10 in the capital.