Photo : Collected
The city dwellers have already started leaving Dhaka to celebrate Eid. Dhaka is becoming empty for a few days. And now the challenge is to keep the theft, dacoity, robbery and other crimes under control in this empty Dhaka. In this situation, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) advised the city dwellers to be alert in advance.
It was informed by the DMP that due to the fact that Dhaka is empty, various gangs can harass people in a number of ways, starting from theft and robbery. In addition, a little carelessness can lead to great danger. So people need to be careful in advance.
DMP Joint Commissioner Biplob Kumar Sarker told The Daily Messenger that a security zone has been established in the capital during Eid. During the Eid holidays, more than crores of people from the capital have gone to their villages to celebrate Eid with their families. About ten lakhs of houses are now vacant. Also, most of the markets, banks, insurance offices will be closed during the holiday. All kinds of safety measures have been taken so that no untoward incident takes place during this time.
“We are working to ensure that they return home with the same joy they went to homeland with.”
He said, community police, residential area security guards and various societies have been added to the security along with the police. The police have alerted the security guards of the houses in different areas. They should also perform constant duty.
He said, “We are requesting to keep the footage of the CCTV cameras of homes, offices, banks and markets operational in addition to the CCTV cameras installed by the police.”
Meanwhile, some advice has been given to the city dwellers before leaving Dhaka by the DMP. These have been announced in different mosques during Jumma prayers on Friday (5 April).
He also requested everyone to switch off all lights, fan switches, electrical plugs and gas and water lines before leaving the house.
He said, to prevent fire accidents at home, after returning to Dhaka after the vacation, first open the doors and windows of the house. Do not light the gas stove or turn on the electrical switch under any circumstances until the gas accumulated in the room is released. CCTV cameras should be installed in homes. Check whether the previously installed cc camera is active or not. Electric lighting system should be kept around the house. Keep cash or jewelery safe with bank or close relatives. The movement of unknown suspects wearing face masks and head caps should be monitored at night or day along. If necessary, call 999. Alarm should be used to prevent motorcycle theft. Marine anchor chain made of steel needed to be used for locking. Motorcycles should be equipped with GPS trackers and high quality disc locks should be used on wheels.
He added, in recent time, the social phishing is a great trap for people. If you accept a friend request sent on Facebook in the name of an IPS or BCS officer, special forces officer, etc. from the country or abroad, you may be cheated or be a victim of blackmailing. Therefore, such friend requests should not be accepted. Do not accept video calls from an unknown person. They can blackmail you by recording obscene pictures or videos sent in such video calls and collect money.
He again said, “No person can close your bank account or BKash or cash account. The fraudsters may ask for account password or PIN number repeatedly in various ways, threatening to close the account. If you receive such a phone call, password or pin code cannot be given under any circumstances. If you receive a phone call saying that money has gone into Bkash account by mistake, don't trust it without checking.”
“Do not believe that you have won the lottery or that you will receive an expensive gift or dollar from abroad. Fraudsters steal lakhs of taka by saying that they have to pay money at airport customs or NBR or Bangladesh Bank. Do not fall into such temptation under any circumstances. Don't believe in the temptation to make crores of taka by investing in border pillars made of very expensive metals. Fraudsters steal crores of taka by showing fake pillars. In reality there is no such pillar.”
“If you receive a request to send urgent money to a relative, friend or acquaintance in danger on Facebook, Messenger, WhatsApp or IMO ID, do not send money without contacting him/her in person. Such requests are sent by stealing mobiles, phishing or hacking different IDs. Don't believe Facebook accounts or apps that offer cheap hotel rentals, plane tickets, or low-cost shipping to Europe, Canada, or America.”
DMP Commissioner Habibur Rahman said to the media that everyone has already been warned about the overall security of the city dwellers. Each deputy commissioner of the eight divisions of the DMP has been directed to exercise utmost vigilance in the security arrangements of their assigned areas.
Messenger/Fameema
