Inspector General of Police (IGP) Md Ali Hossain Fakir on Sunday ordered police officials to take immediate action against misleading social media posts, rumors and propaganda aimed at disrupting communal harmony during Durga Puja, saying adequate security measures have been taken to ensure peaceful celebrations across the country.
Police have adopted a three-tier security arrangement covering the pre-Puja period, the festival and idol immersion and post-Puja activities, he said while speaking at a meeting on law and order and security arrangements for Durga Puja at the Police Headquarters.
The IGP urged everyone to remain alert and vigilant to prevent any individual or group from disrupting communal harmony during the festival.
He also stressed strengthening public engagement through community policing and beat policing.
Expressing hope that Durga Puja would be celebrated safely and joyfully as in previous years, the IGP called for collective efforts to maintain a peaceful atmosphere.
The meeting was attended by heads of different police units based in Dhaka and other relevant officials.
Metropolitan police commissioners, range deputy inspectors general, district police superintendents and the superintendent of police of river police joined the meeting virtually.
Police officials were also directed to maintain regular contact with prominent members of different religious communities and local residents, as well as conduct regular visits to Puja mandaps to ensure security.
The police administration said it was working to prevent any untoward incidents during the celebrations.
Leaders of Puja celebration committees were urged to contact the national emergency service 999 or the nearest police station if they encountered any situation requiring immediate attention.
The IGP also called on the organizers to keep CCTV cameras operational, ensure adequate lighting at Puja mandaps and idol immersion sites, arrange standby generators and deploy volunteers at every mandap to maintain round-the-clock security.
Uniformed and plainclothes police personnel, along with Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT), Crime Response Teams (CRT), Quick Response Teams (QRT), crime scene vans and bomb disposal units, will remain on standby to respond to any emergency during the festival.
Round-the-clock monitoring cells will also operate at Police Headquarters and other police units throughout the celebrations.
This year, around 33,000 Puja mandaps are hosting Durga Puja celebrations across the country.