Centring on the verdict of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case on Thursday, police have decided to beef up security measures in Chittagong to thwart any subversive activities.
Police officials in metropolitan and district units said additional law enforcers would be deployed in different parts including entry points of the city from February 7 to fend off any untoward situation.
Apart from that, officers-in-charge (OCs) of all police stations have been asked to remain alert, said the police sources.
Ahead of Khaleda's verdict, Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) yesterday held a meeting with transport leaders where CMP Commissioner Iqbal Bahar asked the leaders to remain alert giving them some directives.
The meeting was held at CMP headquarters in the port city's Laldighi area at around 4:00pm.
Talking to The Daily Star, CMP's Additional Commissioner (Traffic) Kushum Dewan said, “We held the meeting with the transport leaders and workers' representatives so that no one can create any unrest or sabotage on the road centring the verdict.”
Kusum also said, “At the meeting, a decision was taken that traffic movement from the city's Cement Crossing area to Boat Club area on Airport Road would remain suspended from 4:00pm on February 7 to 10:00pm on February 8.”
“Considering the security of several Key Point Installations (KPIs), which are located between the Cement Crossing and Boat Club, the decision of traffic diversion was taken in the meeting. However, office goers in the areas (Cement Crossing to Boat Club) and defence personnel are out of purview of the decision,” added Additional Deputy Commissioner (Traffic- Bandar) Akramul Haque.
ADC Akram said passengers of Chittagong Shah Amanat International Airport will move using Katgor-Patenga point during the time.
Chittagong district police's Additional Superintendent (Sadar) Rezaul Masud said, “Security has been beefed up at Lohagara, Banshkhali, Sitakunda and Satkania upazilas in the district to fend off any untoward situation centring the February 8 verdict; additional force of over 250 police personnel will be deployed in the areas."
The four upazilas had witnessed massive violence including arson attack, vandalism and other subversive activities during the countrywide blockade after 10th general election. Meanwhile, seeking anonymity, an official of Chittagong district police said they are collecting information about BNP leaders and Jamaat-Shibir activists who had plotted subversive activities during the BNP-Jamaat blockade earlier.
“We are asked to gather the current status of the accused before the verdict of Khaleda Zia,” said the police official.
