Home Affairs Adviser Lieutenant General (Retd.) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury has said that patrol activities have been intensified and security tightened across the country, especially in preparation for November 13. Security at all Key Point Installations (KPIs) has been strengthened, and roadside sales of fuel have been banned to prevent potential incidents.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday (November 11) after a meeting of the Law and Order Advisory Council at the Secretariat, the adviser said that no leniency will be shown to terrorists and that everyone should report any suspicious person immediately to the police.
Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said preparations for the upcoming national election are progressing satisfactorily, and a full-scale security drill will be conducted once all preparations are complete. He urged all citizens to remain vigilant, adding that efforts are underway to ensure that terror suspects do not easily get bail.
The adviser also mentioned that the ongoing drive to recover illegal weapons will be intensified, as some firearms are still unaccounted for. Border surveillance has been strengthened to ensure no foreign militants can enter the country.
Regarding the recent airport fire that reportedly resulted in the loss of arms and ammunition, he said a probe committee has been formed and the actual situation will be revealed once the investigation is complete.
When asked about the deployment for the elections, he stated that while the final numbers are yet to be confirmed, the likely deployment will include 150,000 police personnel, 100,000 army members, 35,000 BGB personnel, 550,000 Ansar members, and around 4,000 navy personnel. The procurement process for body-worn cameras is also nearing completion.
The adviser further said that the law enforcement agencies are on high alert, with Dhaka divided into eight security zones. He acknowledged recent bus arson and crude bomb (cocktail) incidents, confirming that law enforcement agencies have been instructed to prevent any recurrence.
He urged all political parties and conscious citizens to assist in maintaining peace, saying:
“Preventing these misdeeds is not only the responsibility of the law enforcement agencies — it’s also the duty of political parties and the public.”
Finally, he reassured that there is no cause for panic, as law enforcement agencies are fully prepared to maintain stability across the country.