Law enforcers beef up security during Ramadan

The Inspector General of Police has instructed law enforcers to conduct drives against doping gangs, muggers, thieves and extortionists to ensure public safety during the month of Ramadan and Edi-ul Fitr. The directive was issued in a meeting held on May 23 at the police headquarters (PHQ), where IGP AKM Shahidul Haque and other top officials of the force were present. In the meeting, he asked his officers to keep a vigilant watch on social networking sites including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, WhatsApp, WeChat, and YouTube, to protect religious sentiments by guarding against rumour spreading on the sites. Highway and railway police have also been instructed to stay alert to prevent possible incidents of robbery on highways and rail routes during Ramadan. Meanwhile, law enforcement agencies have taken a number of measures to maintain order that include extra patrols, raids and mobile court drives; placing check posts; and maintaining the traffic system. For its part, the general public has been asked to contact law enforcers if they feel that any untoward situation might arise. They have also been urged to ask for protection when they carry large amounts of cash. Sahely Ferdous, assistant inspector general (media and planning) of the police headquarters, said they asked the policemen to provide quality services to the people. “IGP AKM Shahidul Haque warned all the police officials and members that stern actions will be taken if anyone of the force is found guilty of any misdeed,’” she said. “We are stricter against all kinds of extortion during the Ramadan and Eid-ul Fitr. No vehicles can be searched by law enforcers without any specific allegation or information.” Highways have been made off limits to human haulers, and the police have started conducting mobile court drives against food adulteration, Sahely added. The PHQ also instructed the police to ensure security in all shopping malls, markets and makeshift shops on footpaths, particularly between the Taraweeh prayers and Sehri. Md Yusuf Ali, additional deputy commissioner (media) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, said they started drives against criminal gangs that were more active during the Ramadan and Eid-ul Fitr.” “We have busted several gangs of fake law enforcers, fake note makers and muggers in the last some days. Additional troops will be deployed in each market and shopping mall in Dhaka,” he said, adding that plain clothes detectives were being deployed in Dhaka. Yusuf also said the DMP was conducting mobile court drives in kitchen markets to monitor prices of essential commodities and to check food adulteration. Anwar Hossain, additional deputy commissioner (media) of Chittagong Metropolitan Police, said they had taken special measures to ensure security in the port city during the Ramadan. Similar steps have also been taken in Rajshahi, Khulna, Barisal, Sylhet, Rangpur and in all other districts.