The letter, sent to an organizer of Mongol Shobhajatra threatening an attack on the event during the Pohela Boishakh, was intended to create panic, said Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) Director General M Khurshid Hossain.
This is not a threat from any militant organization, said the DG.
He came up with the comments while talking to reporters at Ramna Batamul in the capital on Thursday after inspecting the security management ahead of the Pohela Boishakh celebration.
The issue is not a serious one. As the intelligence surveillance continues, the civil team is also there, so there is no reason to be concerned about it, said the RAB chief.
Stating that a third person had sent the letter, he said that their intention was to create a panic. There is no political involvement behind it.
The commando team of RAB has been kept ready to deal with any kind of situation during the Bengali New Year celebrations. Every battalion of RAB has started nationwide special intelligence surveillance. Security arrangements will be coordinated through the mobile number no-01777720029, said M khurshid.
He said that after reviewing various intelligence information including cyber monitoring, no specific information of any kind of terrorist attack was found centring the celebration.
“However, we are not complacent. The elite force is ready to foil any sabotage plan of criminals. Besides, the cyber team is active in preventing any kind of rumours, false information.”
He said, like every year, special measures have been taken by RAB on the occasion of Pohela Boishakh. Intelligence surveillance has been increased across the country to ensure security. All battalions of RAB will be deployed across the country to strengthen security from today till the end of the New Year celebrations. On the occasion of Bangla New Year celebrations, special security measures have been taken by setting up adequate check post patrols and observation posts to ensure security at TSC, Shahbagh, Suhrawardy Udyan, Ramna Batamul and other places where New Year celebrations are organized. Sweeping will be done with the bomb disposal unit's dog squad at important places in the capital.
RAB has control room, striking reserve force, motorcycle patrol, foot patrol, road patrolling, CCTV monitoring with heavy gun scanner for overall security during the event. Sufficient number of forces are ready to deal with emergent situations. The RAB commando team has been kept ready. Surveillance of plain clothes police is also underway, said the RAB DG.
The director general also said that mobile courts will be operated to prevent harassment of women who come to participate in the New Year.
He also urged everyone to inform them if there is any unpleasant incident with anyone.
A general diary was filed on Tuesday night with Shahbagh police after organizers of Mongol Shobhajatra reportedly received a letter threatening an attack on the event during the Pohela Boishakh celebrations on Friday.
Abatahi Rahman, an organizer of the event, filed the GD, said Nur Mohammad, officer-in-charge of Shahbagh police station.