The government is taking the next three months starting from October to December very seriously and the law enforcing forces will remain alert in this period. The policy makers of the government are worried about various plans of the opposition parties to unsettle government. The planning of the oppositions was revealed in the secret report of some government agencies.
Especially, the top officials of law enforcing agencies said they have taken overall preparations regarding the various programmes of the oppositions to be held in October. They said a special directives has been sent from police headquarters to all units, cities, range and district level offices in this regard. According to the people concerned, in order to protect the lives and properties of mass people and keep the wheel of economy going on, all the forces under the home ministry were asked to take sufficient preparations.
However, from BNP its stated that they had also taken overall preparations centered on the months of October and Novermber. They wants to force the government to come to an understanding prior to the announcement of election cadaster. The Election Commission is going to announce the cadaster in mid-November or in its last week. The cadaster may be announced by setting the date of election on the first week of January.
BNP said their overall preparations are completed around October and November. The government will be forced to come to an agreement on the election issue before announcing the election cadastre. It is known that the Election Commission (EC) is expected to announce the cadastre by the middle or last week of November. According to the initial plan, EC sources claim that the cadastre can be announced by fixing the date of voting in the first week of January. BNP wants to be in the roads of the cities by announcing major political programs from the first week of October. They have already started the program through road march from September 16. On October 3, they will complete the ongoing program through a road march from Cumilla towards Chittagong.
Additional IGP and Chief of Highway Police, Shahabuddin Khan told The Bangladesh Pratidin, “The Dhaka-Chittagong highway has already been brought under CCTV cameras. However, our intelligence operations will be continued to ensure the safety of highways outside of this. As in the past, we are prepared to deal with all kinds of situations with the district police to ensure the safety of the lives and property of the common people.”
Additional IGP and Chief of Industrial Police, Mahbubur Rahman said, “Intelligence activities have continued. All preparations have been made so that the wicked forces cannot do anything destructive in the industrial sector. Members of our cyber unit are constantly monitoring rumour-related issues.”
According to intelligence sources, the policy makers of BNP and the like-minded parties are thinking that the programs that will be held from mid-October will be dominated by Dhaka siege, Secretariat siege , Prime Minister's office siege. These programs are currently being discussed among the BNP policy-makers. If the government obstructs these programs, at one stage the party may be forced to move towards non-cooperation movement or blockade. According to their policy makers, they will also create conditions for realization of demands through one-on-one programs rather than going on the offensive. However, according to them, the ruling party Awami League will always try its best to hold the next election under the current government according to the country's constitution. In order to prevent that, BNP will try to bring as many political parties to its side as possible. In addition, they hope the international community, especially the influential countries, will continue to exert pressure on the government and keep the overall political situation in their favor with anti-government programs.
When asked about this, BNP Joint Secretary General Moazzem Hossain Alal said, “Our program is still systematic and peaceful. We will overthrow the government through a peaceful program and establish a people's government. If the government obstructs our peaceful program, then the people will be forced to give tough program under the changed situation.”How violent or non-violent the movement will depend on the attitude of the government.”
However, DMP Joint Commissioner (Operations) Biplab Kumar Sarkar said, “Why only for the next three months, the policemen are always ready to maintain the law and order situation anytime. Every member of DMP works accordingly. We will not hesitate to take legal action against anyone who plans sabotage or commits a criminal offence. Sources also say that in order to keep the capital Dhaka safe, the past history and ideology of policemen working in Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), Narayanganj, Gazipur Metropolitan Police (GMP), Manikganj, Munshiganj, Comilla, Faridpur districts are being checked with special importance. No one working in a law enforcement agency can take part in any activity contrary to the decision of the Government.
In addition, there are instructions from top level to check whether the CCTV cameras in the security of important installations in Dhaka and surrounding districts are operational or not. It has been asked to take initiative to install more cameras if necessary. The top officials of the police are thinking of sending additional forces to the surrounding districts of Dhaka to test the necessary equipment including weapons-ammunition, water cannons, sound grenades, rubber bullets and take steps to deal with the situation.
Furthermore, the Ministry of Home Affairs has ordered Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Ansar and Village Defence Party, Fire Service and Civil Defence, Jail Department to be ready all the times to deal with the situation arising out of this. Director of Legal and Media Branch of RAB, Commander Khandaker Al Moin, said RAB will do everything necessary to maintain law and order situation. Cyber world is being monitored 24/7 so that no one can create an unstable situation by spreading propaganda and rumours. We will judge criminals as criminals whoever he is. An instruction in this regard has been given to all RAB battalions from the headquarters.
Meanwhile, according to a BNP source, they’re collecting information of government officials and employees who will help the government in the upcoming 12th National Parliament elections by violating the terms of service. In the meantime, the work of making a list has started on behalf of BNP. These lists contain the names of administration, police and election commission-related officials.
(The report was published in Bengali on print and online versions of The Bangladesh Pratidin on September 18 and rewritten in English by Lutful Hoque)
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