Security tightened

Law enforcers have stepped up security in all important places and establishments in the capital, especially in the diplomatic zone, following Friday's terror attack.

Additional uniformed and plainclothes detectives have been deployed for increased surveillance.

Law enforcement agency members are alert to combat any sort of militant attack, Inspector General of Police AKM Shahidul Hoque told reporters while visiting two police constables at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital yesterday.

The constables were wounded in the attack on a Gulshan hangout that left 22 people, including 17 foreigners and two police officers, dead.

The IGP said the law enforcement units working on to curb militancy were aware that more attackers could carry out subversive activities, and that was why they were looking for the suspects.

“They [attackers] may have some contacts with international terrorist groups. But we are not sure about it,” he said,

adding, they suspect that Friday's gunmen were members of Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB).

He said they had been looking for those JMB members.

The government has beefed up the security so that incidents like Friday's attack are not repeated.

As part of the security measures, police have increased their patrols and surveillance at their check posts in different areas of the city, including those having shopping malls and bus stations.

Instructed by government high-ups, law enforcers yesterday held a series of meetings at the police headquarters and the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) headquarters.

The meetings reviewed security arrangements across the country in wake of the attack on Friday.

At the meetings, top police officials decided to increase security and intelligence activities to prevent militant attacks.   

Chaired by IGP Shahidul Hoque, a meeting at the police headquarters elaborately discussed the security system in the diplomatic zones and decided to increase both “visible and invisible” security arrangements there.

The move has been taken so that foreigners feel safe and secure.

DMP Commissioner Asaduzzaman Miah, Rapid Action Battalion Director General Benazir Ahmed, chiefs of the Detective Branch of police and the Special Brach, among others, were present.

The DMP at another meeting at its headquarters reviewed different aspects of the Gulshan attack and security measures in the area.

“We have held a series of meetings to review and update our security arrangements. We have discussed how to provide more security to the people, especially to the foreigners,” DMP Commissioner Asaduzzaman Miah told The Daily Star.

Terming Friday's incident an “attack on the nation”, he said they were doing their best to ensure everybody's security.

Biplob Kumar Sarker, deputy commissioner of the DMP (Tejgaon Zone), who was present at both the meetings, said top officials asked them to enhance surveillance at all security check posts in the capital, including in the diplomatic zone.

Law enforcers have also been asked to increase intelligence gathering to avert terror attacks in future.

Meanwhile, a team of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) yesterday visited the Gulshan restaurant and collected evidence from the spot, said Inspector Prashanto Debnath of the crime scene unit of the CID.

Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury told The Daily Star, “Our top priority is to ensure people's security. The government is working to this end sincerely.'

About boosting confidence among foreigners, she said, “We can't not deny the fact that a heinous incident has occurred, but we are not sitting idle. We will try to ensure more security to the people as well as the foreigners,” she said.

The minister said, “Our effort will continue to curb terrorism as we have zero tolerance against it. We believe by the grace of Allah, we will be able to contain radicalism in the country though we will have difficulties in doing so.”

Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed at a programme in Bhola warned terrorists, saying none of them would be spared.

People have to remain alert against all terror activities and form anti-terrorism committees in every village to solve the problem, he added.

14-PARTY PROGRAMME

The Awami League-led 14-Party alliance yesterday said it would hold a protest rally at the Central Shaheed Minar on July 11, and seven-day protest rallies in all divisional headquarters from July 24 to protest the Gulshan attack.

“It will also form anti-terrorism committees at unions, city corporations, upazilas and districts across the country," 14-party spokesman and AL Presidium Member Mohammed Nasim told reporters after a meeting of the alliance.

He claimed that local agents were involved in the attack and they were all trained cadres of Shibir, pro-Jamaat-e-Islami body.