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Published : 17 Feb 2025, 08:20 PM
Dhaka Metropolitan Police, or DMP, Commissioner Sheikh Md Sajjat Ali has said all measures are in place to handle Tuesday’s Awami League hartal.
The police chief urged the public to stay calm while speaking to journalists at the inauguration of the renovated Deputy Commissioner’s Office in Tejgaon.
When asked about Awami League's Facebook-based programmes, he said: “This is the media era, they are free to do so.”
He was then asked whether there were any preparations in place for the hartal.
“All preparations are in place. My department will be there. Do not be alarmed. Nothing will happen, nothing at all,” he said.
The ousted Awami League announced a series of programmes on the party’s Facebook page on Jan 28, demanding the resignation of the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus, along with nine other demands.
The programmes include leaflet distribution from Feb 1-5, protest marches and rallies on Feb 6, demonstration marches and rallies on Feb 10, blockades on Feb 16, and a nationwide dawn-to-dusk hartal on Feb 18.
The party had been regularly posting about the programme on Facebook since Feb 1, but its leaders started facing arrests and detentions.
As a result, they have largely refrained from taking to the streets, though their online campaign continues.
The DMP chief said Awami League had previously announced similar programmes.
"You are seeing this on Facebook, they have organised such programmes in the past as well.”
"There is a security system in place across the city, and preparations are ready. We are working on it.
“Over the past month and a half, similar programmes have been organised, and we have managed them well. Law and order is good," he concluded.
