Around 0.4m security personnel deployed for safe Durga Puja

Home Adviser Lieutenant General (Retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury on Sunday said around 0.4 million (four lakh) security personnel have been deployed across the country for safe and peaceful celebration of the Durga Puja.

Of the deployed security personnel, 0.1 million are members of the armed forces, 70,000 police and over 0.2 million Ansar along with 430 platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) members, he told the media after a meeting of the Core Committee on law and order at Bangladesh Secretariat.

The adviser also said intelligence surveillance has been increased around the 'risky' Puja mandaps across the country to make the security foolproof, although there is no security threat during the Durga Puja.

He firmly said this year's Durga Puja would be held in a festive and peaceful manner.

"Everything was found to be in order, and no complaints regarding security risks were reported," he said while referring to his recent visits to various Puja mandaps in Dhaka, Chattogram, Narayanganj and Munshiganj.

The home adviser noted that cohorts of the fallen fascist regime and a neighbouring country are spreading rumours and misinformation on social media about the Durga Puja. He called upon the media to play an effective role in countering these.

About the upcoming national election, he said the Chief Adviser had once again stated at the UNGA session that the national election would be held in next February.

"We will do whatever is required to hold the election in a peaceful and festive manner," he firmly mentioned.

talhabinhabib@yahoo.com