Law enforcement on high alert, no mercy for criminals: Home adviser
Fuel oil sales by the roadside suspended temporarily to prevent sabotage, says Jahangir Alam
Home Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said law enforcement agencies are on high alert ahead of the Awami League's 13 November programme, adding that no individuals involved in criminal activities or arson will be given leniency.
He made the remarks while briefing journalists after a meeting of the advisory council committee on law and order at the Home Ministry in the Bangladesh Secretariat today (11 November).
"Law enforcement agencies are taking a firm stance. Criminals will not be spared in any way," he said, adding that there is "nothing to fear" regarding the 13 November programme.
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Jahangir Alam also urged all political parties, the media, and the public to resist those responsible for arson and assist law enforcement agencies in identifying and capturing them.
The adviser said roadside fuel oil sales would be temporarily stopped to prevent acts of sabotage, following incidents of vehicles being set on fire in different parts of the country.
"The sale of oil by the roadside will be stopped for a few days. This oil is often used to cause various types of incidents," he said.
He also dismissed allegations of intelligence failure, saying, "No big procession has been held. There have been incidents of setting fire to buses and cocktail explosions in a few places. Law enforcement agencies have been instructed to prevent these from happening again."
There is no intelligence failure. No big procession has been held
Patrolling has been intensified, and security measures have been strengthened at key installations, including the International Crimes Tribunal, Metrorail, Railways, and other crowded areas, the adviser said.
Notably, the International Crimes Tribunal is scheduled to announce the date of the verdict in the case against ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, accused of crimes against humanity, on 13 November.
Marking the occasion, the banned Awami League has announced a "Dhaka Lockdown" programme.
Jahangir Alam further said the government has taken measures to ensure that those accused of criminal activities do not easily obtain bail.
"We will request those who grant bail to ensure that terrorists do not get bail easily," he said.
He also said efforts are underway to recover looted police firearms, adding, "Some weapons remain outside, but efforts are underway to recover them quickly."
Regarding the recent daylight killing of a criminal in Dhaka, Jahangir Alam said the perpetrators would be brought to justice soon, while arrests had already been made in a similar incident in Chattogram.
The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has been directed to prevent cross-border criminal activities and entry of suspects into the country, he said.
On election preparations, the Home Adviser said security arrangements were satisfactory, with 5.5 lakh Ansar members, 1.5 lakh police personnel, 1 lakh army troops, 35,000 BGB members, and around 4,000 Coast Guard members set to be deployed on polling day.
He also mentioned that the two recent fatal shootings in Dhaka occurred between rival criminal groups and that several suspects had already been arrested
