Everyone at Eid congregations will be searched, says Dhaka police

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police or DMP say it have installed a four-tier security at the National Eidgah in Dhaka for the Eid-ul-Fitr congregation and have asked citizens not to bring anything other than prayer mats.

Senior Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 24 June 2017, 09:56 AM
Updated : 24 June 2017, 10:33 AM

"Everyone has to go through a search before entering and we request citizens to cooperate with the security personnel," DMP Commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia told the media on Saturday.

The DMP chief took stock of security measures at the venue of the congregation, which President Md Abdul Hamid is expected to join.

Muslims in Bangladesh will be observing the Eid-ul-Fitr either on Monday or Tuesday depending on moon sighting.

The country's main Eid congregation, attended by the president, cabinet members, lawmakers, politicians and people from all walks of lives, will be held at 8:30am at the National Eidgah.

In case of bad weather, it will be held at the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque at 9am.

The national Eidgah can accommodate 84,000 people, including 5,000 women.

Highlights of Eidgah security measures

Check-posts will be set up at least a kilometer away from the congregation venue along with several watch towers and CCTV cameras;

Personnel from several police units, including counter-terrorism, detective branch, RAB and  plainclothes officers will be deployed;

There will three entrances-- two of them for females and VIPs only; 

Speaking to reporters at the venue, Commissioner Mia said intelligence suggests there is no threats of terror attacks.

"But keeping in mind the attacks on Sholakia Eid congregation and Gulshan last year, we have taken maximum possible security measures,” he said.

There would be around 500 Eid congregations in the Dhaka city this year, Mia said, adding they have arranged security measures for those as well.