DMP vows security during hartal
Monday, 29 November 2010
FE Report
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) will provide security to those who want to run their vehicles and business in the capital during the countrywide dawn-to-dusk hartal (strike) enforced by the main opposition party on November 30.
DMP Commissioner Benazir Ahmed made the commitment at a press briefing at its Moinul Road headquarters Sunday, warning that they would not allow any anarchic activities in the city.
The assurance came after the country's several trade bodies in recent times urged both ruling and opposition parties to say 'no' to such movement (hartal) as it will seriously hamper the country's economy and growth.
"We'll deploy additional law enforcers to protect those who want to operate vehicles and business during the shutdown," the DMP commissioner said, adding that nearly 8,000 police personnel will be posted to maintain order in the city on the day.
Mr Ahmed said security will also be stepped up around the High Court premises today (November 29), during the hearing in a case about the BNP chairperson's cantonment residence to avert any disorder. "No one excepting lawyers and officials of the court will be allowed on the premises to avoid any untoward incident," he added.
"Police will assist activists and workers of BNP if they want to observe the strike peacefully," he said.
The DMP chief also ruled out any possibility of launching mass-arrests across the country on the eve of the hartal, saying that they have started special drive on the basis of intelligence report.
"No innocent people will be harassed in the drive as it is launched against the persons accused in criminal cases," he added.
But BNP leaders alleged that nationwide hunt by police was introduced only to harass their activists so that they cannot take part in the strike.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) will provide security to those who want to run their vehicles and business in the capital during the countrywide dawn-to-dusk hartal (strike) enforced by the main opposition party on November 30.
DMP Commissioner Benazir Ahmed made the commitment at a press briefing at its Moinul Road headquarters Sunday, warning that they would not allow any anarchic activities in the city.
The assurance came after the country's several trade bodies in recent times urged both ruling and opposition parties to say 'no' to such movement (hartal) as it will seriously hamper the country's economy and growth.
"We'll deploy additional law enforcers to protect those who want to operate vehicles and business during the shutdown," the DMP commissioner said, adding that nearly 8,000 police personnel will be posted to maintain order in the city on the day.
Mr Ahmed said security will also be stepped up around the High Court premises today (November 29), during the hearing in a case about the BNP chairperson's cantonment residence to avert any disorder. "No one excepting lawyers and officials of the court will be allowed on the premises to avoid any untoward incident," he added.
"Police will assist activists and workers of BNP if they want to observe the strike peacefully," he said.
The DMP chief also ruled out any possibility of launching mass-arrests across the country on the eve of the hartal, saying that they have started special drive on the basis of intelligence report.
"No innocent people will be harassed in the drive as it is launched against the persons accused in criminal cases," he added.
But BNP leaders alleged that nationwide hunt by police was introduced only to harass their activists so that they cannot take part in the strike.