DMP chief: People only allowed to take prayer mats to National Eidgah

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Khandker Golam Faruq said on Friday that Muslims cannot take any kind of bag or items other than prayer mats to the National Eidgah.

There is no specific threat centring on Eid congregations and adequate security measures have been taken from their side, said the commissioner after inspecting the security arrangements at the National Eidgah.

A four-tier security arrangement will be in place at the eidgah, as the president, many important figures of the country, ministers, secretaries, diplomats, foreign diplomats, the chief justice and other distinguished individuals, along with the general public, will attend the prayers, he added.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Khandker Golam Faruq Bangla Tribune

The DMP chief further said the DMP's bomb disposal unit and the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit's dog squad have swept the area for threats, and a sufficient number of police officers in plainclothes will be deployed alongside uniformed ones.

Stating that the entire place will be monitored through CCTV cameras, Khandker Golam Faruq said the camera feeds will be checked from a temporary control room set up at the National Eidgah.

Idgah Maidan is being swept by Bomb Diesel Unit of DMP and Dog Squad of Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) Unit Bangla Tribune

The DMP commissioner advised worshippers to arrive a little earlier than the scheduled time, as it may take time to go through security checks. 

He also requested everyone to be patient and cooperate with the police if long lines form at the gates.