Photo : Messenger
With the national elections nearing, fears of clandestine attacks are rising across the country, including the capital.
Law enforcement agencies have adopted a cautious stance at the field level after various intelligence agencies informed the Ministry of Information about a conspiracy to instill fear among voters, discouraging them from casting their votes. The number of plainclothes police has also been increased. Additionally, the security of roads, highways, and important government, private, and autonomous institutions has been heightened.
Harunur Rashid, the Additional Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), responded to a question at a press conference, saying that all attempts to obstruct or influence the election would be thwarted. “This time, we have arranged security measures assuming that there will be sabotage surrounding the movement of BNP. We have sufficient force throughout the country, including Dhaka, and they are actively working,” he mentioned.
He also added, “Our operation to arrest the accused in the sabotage case is ongoing. We have information that these accused will attempt to sabotage again, and we are aware of that."
Meanwhile, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal addressed the issue in the secretariat. He told reporters, “Intelligence forces are on high alert to prevent assassinations. BNP has always been involved in sabotage; it's ingrained in them. Our security forces are vigilant, and our intelligence forces are actively working.”
He further said, “Because our intelligence agencies are functioning effectively, saboteurs have not had much impact on these activities. I believe the people of this country will resist saboteurs; they do not want to return to darkness.”
In response to concerns expressed by Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader that BNP can carry out assassinations, the Home Minister said, “The Road Transport and Bridges Minister and our party’s general secretary must have more information because he is involved in politics and has sufficient information. He made that statement based on that information. However, our assurance is that our intelligence forces are on high alert, and we are working to apprehend potential perpetrators before such incidents occur.”
Commander Khandaker Al Moin, the director of the Legal and Media Wing of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), said, “RAB's activities on the highways are ongoing. We are making every effort to prevent any sabotage.”
“We are vigilant against all activities that could obstruct the national elections. Additionally, our cyber patrolling team is working to counter various types of online rumours,” he added.
According to sources, since October 28, the BNP-Jamaat alliances have been implementing various programmes, including hartal and blockades, to disrupt the national elections. Currently, they are continuing the leaflet distribution programme. There are hints that they will launch a non-stop programme again at the beginning of January. It is assumed that they will use maximum force in these few days as the election is scheduled to be held on January 7. They aim to create a situation where voters are afraid to go to the polling centres to cast their votes. For this reason, law enforcement agencies have already been alerted to prevent their activities.
Meanwhile, 1,151 platoons of BGB, 700 patrol teams of RAB are serving as the striking force from December 29 to control the law-and-order situation for the national elections. A total of 189,000 policemen across the country, including the capital, and the Coast Guard in 43 unions of coastal areas, along with a significant number of Ansar Guard Battalion striking forces, have been deployed to prevent any sabotage.
Lieutenant Colonel Redwanul Islam, the commander of Dhaka Battalion (26 BGB), told reporters that they are working to prevent any sabotage during the elections. A sufficient number of BGB members are operating in Dhaka.
He said, “We are conducting patrol activities day and night so that we can prevent any anti-election activities. We are working to maintain a peaceful environment.”
DMP Joint Commissioner Biplab Kumar Sarkar told The Daily Messenger, “We are on alert at all times. Since the election is a week away, those who want to thwart the election will be active. However, we will discharge our constitutional duty. Whoever obstructs will be brought under the law.”
Messenger/Disha
