Police have taken some serious security measures across the capital city in the wake of the recent murders and attacks on secularists and ahead of some international cultural events in Dhaka.
Anybody who lives in the city can tell that there has recently been a show of force by law enforcement agencies in the city in the form of many more check posts than usual, beefed up security at airports, greater patrolling, etc.
Since Italian aid worker Cesare Tavella was killed in late September, the tightest possible security has been ensured for the entire Gulshan area, including the diplomatic zone where the murder took place. In addition to enhanced policing, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) members have been patrolling the area.
Up until very recently, security checking was limited to searching vehicles. The day before yesterday, as part of even more enhanced security, pedestrians were also frisked at check posts in Gulshan.
Yesterday, serious law enforcement was seen in other parts of the city as well, particularly in the Motijheel area, where the Bangabandhu National Stadium is located and where the Australian football team played a world cup qualifier with Bangladesh football team.
Police took special arrangements in and around the Supreme Court premises as well because of the hearing on the review petitions of two death row war criminals, BNP’s Salauddin Quader Chowdhury and Jamaat’s Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid.
Past experiences suggest that law and order situation worsens every time a major war crimes trial verdict comes out.
A police spokesperson said that they had strengthened the security check posts in the city in terms of manpower. Usually, a roadside check post comprise an assistant sub-inspector (ASI) and two-three constables.
Yesterday, it was seen that many check posts had seven-eight policemen. In many places, police station officers-in-charge (OCs) and sometime assistant commissioners (ACs) were also seen doing patrol duty.
“Law enforcers have been asked to get in touch with the eminent personalities who have been targetted by criminals,” said Muntasirul Islam, a deputy commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP).
He also said their force is looking to introduce a three-shift duty at the field and the manpower demand for this could be met by bringing those policemen who are currently under training.
Because the check posts are generally set up near important intersections or on busy roads, avoiding most of these is easy if someone uses alleys and lanes.
When asked about this, DC Muntasirul said: “I agree that we have not been able to cover every corner. This is mainly because we do not have enough manpower. But these check posts are also a part of our ‘visible policing’ strategy. We want the criminals to see that police is very much alert. We are also making preparations to bring every lanes and alleys under the security blanket if needed.”
Asked whether any criminals had so far been arrested at the check posts, the DC said that he would have to look at the records.
DMP Commissioner Asaduzzaman Miah has recently instructed his subordinates to collect information on every tenants, house-owners and boarders of student hostels and hotels so that they can easily identify criminals.
He has also ordered the law enforcers at check post duty to shoot if they are attacked or if there is any untoward situation.
In recent months, police have been dealing with some of the toughest situation in terms of law enforcement.
In the last 15-20 days, at least three law enforcers – a policeman, a member of industrial police, and a member of military police – came under similar attacks while on check post duty. The first of them was killed.
Secularists bloggers and publishers, liberal religious scholars alike have been killed and attacked. Bombs have been blasted in the middle of a religious gathering. Senior university professors have been given death threats.
All of these have been happening over a span of just a few months and the responsibility of most of these incidents are being claimed by militant groups.
Friday’s deadly terrorist attack in Paris has raised an alarm, showing that even the biggest metropolitan cities in the developed world are not secured enough despite their security forces having enough manpower and skills.
