While people across the country celebrate the holy festival of Eid-ul-Fitr with their families, a To maintain law and order during Eid, nearly 80 percent of police officers were unable to take leave this year., ensuring public safety and security.
To maintain law and order during Eid, nearly 80 percent of police officers were unable to take leave this year. As a result, many are observing the occasion away from their loved ones, carrying out continuous responsibilities across the city.
For them, the greatest hardship is separation from family. Some officers have spent multiple Eids at police stations, barracks, or on the streets, often connecting with their children only through video calls.
On Saturday morning, a strong police presence was observed at key locations across Dhaka, including the National Eidgah, Baitul Mukarram Mosque, as well as other important establishments and major roads.
In the Kakrail area, a police officer on duty said he was unable to take leave due to the responsibility of ensuring public safety. However, he added that he finds fulfillment in performing his duties. At the Shantinagar intersection, another officer, Parimal, was seen on duty but declined to comment.
Police officials said their primary responsibility is to ensure the safety and security of citizens. As members of a service-oriented profession, they expressed no regrets about missing Eid leave, emphasizing that their commitment to public service remains their highest priority.
Two Sub-Inspectors (SIs) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), Md Samiul Islam of Gulshan Police Station and Sachu Biswas of Pallabi Police Station, have said they were unable to take Eid leave this year due to official duty, continuing a trend for several years in the case of one of them.
SI Md Samiul Islam said that since joining the police force in 2019, he has rarely been able to take leave during Eid, and has not received any Eid leave for the past three years. He added, however, that he considers this sacrifice part of his professional responsibility.
Similarly, SI Sachu Biswas stated that he was also not granted Eid leave this year, which prevented him from travelling to his village to celebrate the festival with his family. He emphasized that ensuring the safety and security of citizens during Eid celebrations remains their foremost duty.
According to DMP sources, more than 20,000 police personnel have been deployed across the capital during the Eid holiday period to maintain law and order. Checkpoints have been established in various areas under the jurisdiction of 50 police stations in Dhaka, with ongoing search and security operations.
In addition to the DMP, other law enforcement agencies, including the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Detective Branch (DB), Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit, Armed Police Battalion (APBn), and Ansar members, are also actively engaged in ensuring security during the festive period.