Security tightened ahead of Christmas to foil subversive activities

Additional Deputy Commissioner, Dhaka Metropolitan Police, Media Md Yusuf Ali said law enforcers, including police and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), had been deployed at churches, its adjacent areas and other Christian majority places across the country. Police and RAB officials also said members of law enforcement agencies remained alert at different hotels, including Sonargaon, Ruposhi Bangla, Dhaka Radisson and Dhaka Westin where parties featuring carols, games and dance performances marking Christmas, the biggest religious festival of the Christians, will be held. On Wednesday, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) prohibited the carrying of all types of explosives and explosion of firecrackers during Christmas Day. “The ban will come into effect from Saturday [today] evening to Sunday midnight in order to protect the sanctity of the day and a peaceful celebration,” DMP Commissioner Md Asaduzzaman Miah said in a press release. Carrying and playing explosive, harmful and reprehensible products such as fireworks and crackers are prohibited in DMP area from Saturday 6pm till Sunday 12am following the DMP ordinance (Ordinance no-III/76), section 28, the release added. Meanwhile, special security measures have been taken across the port city particularly at all the churches to avert any kind of untoward or subversive activities during the Christmas, the biggest festival for Christian community. Talking to Dhaka Tribune Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP)’s Additional Commissioner (crime and operation) Debdas Bhattacharia said: “Police and intelligence personnel put on high alert ahead of the holy programme while additional police forces have been deployed at the each church in the city to avert any kind of untoward situation”. “Along with uniformed police, plainclothes police and detective personnel have also been working in the field level in the city to find out if there is any threat of subversive activities”, added the CMP additional commissioner. The additional commissioner said police had already issued a number of directions in each church asking to tighten their own security system while check post will be put near the area of the churches. Sources at different churches said each of churches has own security arrangements and visitors entry will be restricted during the holy programme. To celebrate the Christmas, different hotels and restaurants of the city have chalked out different programmes, said the sources.