Don’t leave cash, jewellery at home: DMP

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has advised residents leaving the capital for Eid not to leave cash, gold jewellery or important documents unattended at home, and instead to keep them with relatives or at a police station if necessary.

The advice came on Sunday from acting DMP chief Md Sarwar at a media briefing, where he outlined security plans for Eid travel and the safety of the capital during the holidays.

He said preparations had already begun to ensure smooth Eid journeys for people leaving Dhaka and to maintain security in the city while many homes remain empty.

The DMP has taken “adequate security measures” so city residents can celebrate Eid “safely and without worry”, according to him.

Addressing residents, Sarwar said: “Do not leave cash, gold ornaments or important documents in an unprotected condition. Leave them at the homes of your relatives.”

Asked what people without relatives in Dhaka should do, he said: “They can seek our help if necessary. In that case, they can keep them at the police station.”

On security in the capital during the Eid holidays, Sarwar said patrols had been strengthened and checkpoints increased so that criminals could not take advantage of the situation.

He said there would be special surveillance in residential, commercial and diplomatic areas.

He also urged residents to install CCTV cameras in their houses or flats and to ensure that existing cameras are functioning.

Before leaving home, residents should check whether doors and windows are properly shut and locked, he added.

Sarwar also advised people to ensure adequate lighting around their homes at night and to check electricity, gas and water connections before leaving.

He urged residents to inform police immediately if they notice any suspicious movement in their neighbourhood during the holidays.

At the briefing, Sarwar also spoke of heightened vigilance during Ramadan over security at the Ekushey Book Fair, the first session of parliament, the diplomatic zone amid tensions in the Middle East, and the Bangladesh-Pakistan cricket match.

He said special drives were also continuing in crime-prone areas at night, including block raids aimed at tackling muggers, drugs and youth gangs.

To help residents get home in time for iftar, more than 600 additional traffic police have been deployed during Ramadan alongside the regular traffic force, he said.

Sarwar noted that adequate security measures had been taken around the capital’s four bus terminals, one launch terminal and the railway station to maintain law and order and ensure smooth travel for passengers.

Alongside uniformed police, detective police will also be deployed to prevent passenger harassment and overcharging of fares, he said.

He added that DMP magistrates, with support from the traffic division, were conducting mobile court drives to prevent unfit vehicles from getting onto the roads.

Among the roads leading out of Dhaka, Sarwar advised travellers to avoid Abdullahpur, the stretch from Gulistan to Signboard, Aminbazar, Mirpur Road, the route from Fulbaria via Tanti Bazar to Babubazar Bridge or from Gulistan to Buriganga Bridge, Mohammadpur Bosila Bridge Road, and, unless necessary, the Fulbaria to Sadarghat terminal area.

He said about 1,000 additional police personnel were on duty from morning until late night at major shopping centres in the capital.

In addition to extra police, station and outpost police have also been deployed to prevent mugging, drugging gangs and pickpockets, he said.

Sarwar also said mobile courts would operate from Eid day and for several days after on the Purbachal Expressway, the road from Banani to Abdullahpur and in the Gulshan area to prevent racing and overspeeding in an emptier Dhaka.

Replying to a question, he said regular drives were continuing in crime-prone areas.

More than 300 motorcycle and vehicle mobile patrols are operating daily across Dhaka, he said, while more than 70 checkpoints are in place at night.

“We have numerous foot patrols. Officers and force members are being deployed to keep these areas under control,” Sarwar said.