Authorities have taken adequate measures to ensure foolproof security ahead of Ekushey Book Fair, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Md Shafiqul Islam has said.
“Book fair is a festival like Pahela Baishakh and ensuring security at the fair is one of the biggest responsibilities of DMP,” he said while talking to reporters about the overall security measures at Suhrawardy Uddyan, the venue of the fair, on Sunday.
This year security will be tightened at the book fair premises, Shaheed Minar to Shahbag and Nilkhet areas. Law enforcers will be deployed in the areas to check visitors coming to the fair, said the DMP Boss.
No vehicles will be allowed at book fair premises and there will be six entrances, he said adding that everyone should enter the venue through the archway after the metal detector checkpoint.
Every inch of the book fair has been brought under CCTV surveillance and plainclothes police will be deployed alongside regular police members, said Shafiqul.
Police will patrol the areas in vehicles and motorbikes and CTTC, bomb disposal unit, crime scene van and dog squad will be kept on alert to tackle any untoward situation, he said.
A medical team and firefighters will be kept ready at the fair premises.
Senior officials of law enforcement agencies will visit the book fair venue and inspect the overall security.
He also urged people to wear masks and maintain health guidelines when visiting the book fair.
Mobile teams will conduct drives to ensure the use of masks and they will also check vaccine certificates of those who will stay in stalls, said the DMP commissioner.
Replying to a question about any possible security threat, the DMP chief said: “It is quite normal that the court judgment in blogger Avijit Roy murder case enraged the militants. So, we have taken all necessary measures taking these issues under consideration.”
The Ekushey book fair will begin on Tuesday.