UNB, Dhaka

Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sheikh Md Sajjat Ali yesterday said the DMP has taken foolproof security measures to ensure a festive atmosphere during the Durga Puja, the biggest religious festival of the country’s Hindu community.

Addressing a press briefing at the Dhakeshwari Temple, the DMP Commissioner said this year Durga Puja will be held at 254 mandaps across the capital. Considering the importance, size, and gatherings of devotees, the mandaps have been categorised into four classes, with round-the-clock police deployment, he said.

He added that CCTV monitoring has been arranged in and around the mandaps, while archways have been set up at the entry points of key mandaps.

SWAT, the Explosive Recovery and Bomb Disposal Team, Dog Squad, and Crime Scene Unit will remain on standby to tackle any emergency, he also said.

A separate security plan has been taken for the immersion procession on Vijaya Dashami, which will begin from Dhakeshwari National Temple and end at Wiseghat. Additional police forces will be deployed to ensure its smooth observance, said the DMP commissioner.

Responding to a question, the commissioner said there is no security threat centering this year’s festival. “If any miscreant tries to disrupt the prevailing environment, they will be collectively resisted,” he added, noting that cyber monitoring has also been strengthened to prevent the spread of misinformation or disinformation.

He expressed hope that this year’s Durga Puja will be celebrated in a more festive and joyous manner than in the past.