Police deploy three-tier security for 33,000 Durga Puja venues: IGP
Ali Hossain Fakir urges CCTV surveillance, adequate lighting and swift action against social media rumours to prevent communal tensions.
Police have introduced a three-tier security arrangement for nearly 33,000 Durga Puja venues across the country, with field-level officers instructed to act swiftly against rumours and misinformation that could disrupt communal harmony.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ali Hossain Fakir announced the measures at a meeting on law and order and security for Sharadiya Durga Puja 2026 at the Hall of Pride at Police Headquarters today (11 October).
He said the security plan would cover three phases: the period before the festival, the celebrations and idol immersion, and the post-festival period. Police operations related to the festival have already begun.
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The IGP urged all concerned to remain vigilant to prevent any group from creating an untoward situation or undermining communal harmony during the celebrations.
He also called for greater public participation through community and beat policing.
Police Headquarters has instructed field-level officers to take immediate action against those attempting to disrupt communal harmony by spreading propaganda, circulating rumours or posting misleading images and information on social media.
Officers have also been directed to maintain regular contact with local residents and representatives of different religious communities, and to visit Puja venues regularly.
According to Police Headquarters, uniformed and plainclothes police will be deployed alongside specialised units, including the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team, Crime Response Teams (CRT), Quick Response Teams (QRT), crime scene vans and bomb disposal units.
Monitoring cells will operate round the clock at Police Headquarters and other police units to oversee the security situation and respond to any untoward incident.
Police have advised Puja committees to keep CCTV cameras operational at festival venues and idol immersion sites, ensure adequate lighting and arrange standby generators to maintain an uninterrupted power supply.
Committee leaders have also been urged to deploy volunteers at every venue to help ensure round-the-clock security.
They have been asked to contact the national emergency service at 999 or the nearest police station if they anticipate any security threat or untoward incident.
Representatives of Hindu religious organisations and Puja celebration committees expressed satisfaction with the security arrangements at the meeting and thanked the government and police administration.
The meeting was attended by additional inspectors general of police, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner, heads of different police units and representatives of the Hindu Religious Welfare Trust, Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council, Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad and various religious and social organisations.
Commissioners of metropolitan police units, range deputy inspectors general and district superintendents of police joined the meeting virtually.
