Security heightened

The police will take all-out security measures during the delivery of the verdict in the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman murder case on November 19 to prevent any unwarranted incidents. ‘The Supreme Court has set a date for delivering the verdict, and it’s very significant for the nation. We will ensure tough security on that day,’ the Inspector-General of Police, Nur Mohammad, told a press conference in the Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s headquarters on Thursday. He said that in the last few days they have beefed up security for high-profile individuals and at all the key places. The IGP, replying to a question, said that significant progress has been made in the investigation of the bomb attack on Awami League lawmaker Sheikh Fazle Noor Tapash, which would be disclosed later. When he was asked whether the former state minister for home affairs, Lutfozzaman Babar, has been found to be involved in the 21 August, 2004 grenade attack case, the IGP said investigation is going on and the charge-sheet would be submitted at the proper time. Nur Mohammad said the meeting decided to instruct field-level policemen not to stop any truck carrying sacrificial cattle to the capital, even though the trucks or drivers do not have proper documents, before the upcoming Eid unless any they have any specific information that illegal things are being carried by any truck. He said that the police would take all necessary steps to ensure that that no untoward incident takes place over the disposal and purchase of the hides of sacrificed cattle and goats. He also sought everyone’s cooperation to stop extortion and illegal toll collection. When his attention was drawn to the finance minister’s recent remark that a part of the illegal small arms that are seized again go to the criminals in the subcontinent, the IGP expressed his displeasure at the minister for making such a comment. ‘You journalists better ask the minister, not me, about the basis of his information,’ he exclaimed. He said there is no chance of those firearms going back to the criminals as they are shown as evidence in the cases filed after seizure or recovery. The IGP also said they have assigned uniformed and plainclothes lawmen to ensure that no unrest in the garments sector can take place ahead of the Eid. When his attention was drawn to the country’s south-western region which is infested by outlaws, the IGP claimed that the situation has improved a lot and will become even better if enough manpower and vehicles can be provided to the lawmen in the camps there. When he was asked about the execution of the High Court’s directive, issued to him on Tuesday, to stop within 48 hours earth-filling and encroachment on the Turag River, the IGP said he is yet to receive the order but has already instructed his forces to take the necessary steps out of social responsibility.

source:new age