Uneasy calm prevails in city

FE Team | Published: November 20, 2009 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00

FE Report
An uneasy calmness prevailed in the city Thursday with less traffic movement and public outings as the Supreme Court confirmed death sentences to 12 former army men in Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman assassination case after dismissing the appeals filed by five convicts.
A special bench of the SC Appellate Division comprising Justice Md Tafazzul Islam, Justice Md Abdul Aziz, Justice BK Das, Justice Md Muzammel Hossain and Justice SK Sinha delivered the verdict at 11:45am amid tight security in and around the court areas as well as elsewhere across the country.
The verdict, which upheld the High Court verdict on the killings that took place on August 15, 1975, came after hearing for 29 days following the appeals filed by five condemned convicts in the case challenging their convictions and sentences.
People from all walks of life took individual precautionary measures and avoided needless outings after the government put the law enforcement and intelligence agencies across the country on the alert to avert any untoward incidents before and after the final judgment.
The authorities took highest security measures anticipating any sabotage by the absconding killers or their local collaborators, sources said.
The authorities were particularly forced to tighten security grips ahead of the landmark verdict after last month's bomb attack at the car of ruling party lawmaker Fazle Noor Taposh in the capital, which left 15 people injured.
This was followed by death threats received by Attorney General Mahbubey Alam, which warned of killing him and his family members if the army officers weren't released.
Over 40,000 additional forces from the police and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) were deployed, 200 check posts set up and 300 special teams assigned to patrol in the country as the authorities feared that the convicted men's supporters would disrupt the proceedings.
In the capital, about 12,000 law enforcers were deployed with many guarding strategic buildings including the Dhaka Central Jail where the five convicted killers are kept and the Supreme Court where the verdict was given.
Each member of 25,000-personnel Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) was deployed directly or indirectly in the city, said its Commissioner AKM Shahidul Hoque.
Check posts were set up at various key points in the capital, including the diplomatic enclave, Dhaka University campus and the court premises, to ensure sound security.
Traffic movements in the capital's usually crowded roads and thoroughfares were much thinner as people chose to stay inside.
"The traffic movement was much less until the noon. Although the number of traffic increased in the later part of the day, their number did not match with that of the other office days," said Abdur Rouf, an on-duty traffic official at the city's Malibagh crossing.
Masudur Rahman, a third year student of a private university, told the FE he could not attend classes, as his parents did not allow him to go to the university for fear of troubles.
Economic activities were also affected until noon due to extra precaution.
Presence of the shoppers at supermarkets and shopping malls was also less than expected although the holy Eid-ul-Azha, one of the largest religious festivals of Muslims, is just a week away when they normally throng the stores.
"The presence of shoppers was less throughout the day," said a shop-owner at the Mouchak Market.
Many city schools were closed to avert any untoward incident. Some schools, however, limited their activities to exams.
However, people started to move out of their houses albeit in small numbers in the afternoon and evening. No untoward incidents were reported on the day.
But the increased security would continue after Thursday's verdict as it would be followed by a number of important events including Eid, Christmas, BDR mutiny trial and the New Year, police said.