IGP rules out IS existence in Bangladesh

Inspector General of Police AKM Shahidul Hoque yesterday said there was no organisational existence of terrorist outfit Islamic State (IS) in Bangladesh.

 “Anyone may personally believe in their (IS) ideology. But we will not let our country become a terrorist state,” he said at a quarterly crime conference at the police headquarters in the capital.

“We will thwart all conspiracies that are being hatched for our country,” the police chief said.

In a press release, Shahidul said the police previously had achieved success in curbing militancy, extremism and other criminal activities and it would have to maintain the success.

He urged his subordinates to remain alert so that banned militant outfits like Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) and Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami (Huji) cannot regroup in the country with different names.

The recent killings of two foreigners were also discussed in the meeting attended by the deputy inspector general and high-ranking police officials from across the country.

On September 28, Italian aid worker Cesare Tavella was gunned down in Gulshan while Japanese national Hoshi Kunio was shot to death in Rangpur on Saturday.

He asked the police officials concerned to immediately bring the killers to book.

The meeting also discussed the security of foreign nationals staying in the country.

Seeking anonymity, an official of the police headquarters said the police boss asked the officers to strictly follow his previous instruction to collect intelligence about foreigners residing in the country.

In another meeting with Hindu community leaders, the police chief said adequate security measures have been taken to ensure peaceful observation of Durga Puja, the biggest religious festival of the Hindus.

Law enforcers were directed to remain alert so that no quarter could make any trouble or create possibility to deteriorate law and order during the celebration, the IGP said, adding that the vulnerable puja mandaps would be kept under foolproof security.