DHAKA, Sept 18, 2018 (BSS) – A stringent security measure will be clamped down across the old city’s Hossaini Dalan area for peaceful observance of the holy Ashura on Friday commemorating the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hossain (RA), grandson of Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (SM).
“The security arrangement is planned mainly to provide foolproof security to each of the Tajia michhils (processions) to evade untoward incidents,” said Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia while talking to reporters after inspecting the security arrangements at Imambara Hussaini Dalan in old Dhaka.
Highest security measures have been taken place at Boro Katara Imambara, Khoja Shiya Isnusari Imambara and Bibikarowja areas of the old city, he informed.
“The procession will be brought out from Imambara Hussaini Dalan,” he said, adding that the processions will be cordoned off by police and no one will be allowed to join a moving procession from outside. Replying to a query the DMP chief said there are no security threats centering the holy Ashura.
Bags and sharp objects such as knife, sword, and blade, explosives, tea flax, pressure cooker, and flag staff taller than 12 feet will not be allowed in the procession while firecrackers will remain banned during the event, he also said.
Imambara Hussaini Dalan area has been brought under foolproof security with installing closed circuit camera televisions (CCTVs), and archways, and none will be allowed to join the procession without search.
The DMP chief also said that fire tenders, emergency medical services, SWAT, crime scene unit and bomb disposal unit will be kept ready for peaceful observance of the Ashura.
Dog squads of police and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) will sweep each of the venues of the Ashuura while police personnel will be posted on rooftops along the areas where the procession will march, said the DMP chief.
The DMP is used to take multi-dimensional security arrangement since the Hossaini Dalan bomb explosion incident of October 23, 2015, in which at least two people were killed and over 100 others.