Dhaka city residential, commercial and office building owners have been requested by the government to make security arrangements during the Eid-ul-Azha and Durga Puja holidays to complement the government’s precautions.
“Although the government has taken tight security measures by deploying Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Ansar and the police, residential and commercial building owners are requested to make their own security preparations. They are requested to set up closed-circuit television cameras (CCTV cameras) because the footage is helpful for law enforcement agencies in the event of a crime,” State Minister for Home Affairs Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal told reporters yesterday at his secretariat office.
“Incidents like robbery or theft can be avoided by setting up CCTV cameras in buildings, markets and offices. And CCTV footage can help provide evidence in the event of a crime,” he said.
He said: “Closed-circuit television cameras will be set up at 14 entry and exist points of the capital city, keeping in mind that Dhaka city will be empty during the festivals. The cameras will start functioning within a day or two.”
“Cameras are being set up to monitor everyone entering or exiting the capital,” Kamal added.
He also said the government is setting up watch towers on the highways during the festivals.
The minister said: “Night vision cameras and binoculars will be used by law enforcers in the watch towers to monitor activity on the highways.”
Kamal said: “RAB, police and Ansar will ensure security across the country during this period. Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) will also be kept on alert.”
BGB has been directed to conduct tough monitoring of border areas to halt the smuggling of animal hides from the country.
Meanwhile, the home ministry on Monday sent a letter to the Inspector General of Police, Director General of Rapid Action Battalion and deputy commissioners of every district to take tight security measures to protect 621 vulnerable Hindu temples across the country.