Dhaka, Aug 23 (V7N) – On Saturday, a joint coordination meeting was held at the Bangladesh Police Auditorium in Rajarbagh, where senior leaders from 32 political parties and alliances met with officials from the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP). The discussion, led by DMP Commissioner Sheikh Mohammad Sajjad Ali, NDC, focused on the DMP’s preparedness for the forthcoming national elections and maintaining civic order during political programs.
In his remarks, the DMP Commissioner assured that the highest number of police personnel would be deployed during the election to ensure safety and maintain public order. He called upon political parties to refrain from holding rallies or public gatherings on busy roads and instead utilize designated venues to avoid public inconvenience.
The Commissioner highlighted the serious disruptions caused by blocking roads—pointing out that pregnant women, critically ill patients, and students often suffer due to delayed transportation. “A student cannot reach their exam center on time; an emergency patient cannot make it to the hospital. These are preventable hardships,” he said, stressing the urgency of addressing such situations.
To facilitate peaceful gatherings, the DMP proposed 91 designated locations across the city for political programs. These include 15 venues in Motijheel Division, 12 in Tejgaon, 17 in Lalbagh, 14 in Wari, 8 in Gulshan, 11 in Mirpur, 10 in Uttara, and 4 in Ramna Division. The proposal aims to strike a balance between the right to assembly and minimizing public disruption.
During the discussion, political representatives raised concerns over key urban issues such as traffic congestion, the spread of narcotics, and the growing threat of juvenile gangs. They expressed their commitment to cooperate with law enforcement to combat these challenges and ensure a peaceful electoral process.
The representatives emphasized that their shared goal is to ensure a safe and peaceful living environment for every citizen in Dhaka. They also urged the police to remain vigilant against any attempts at sabotage in the lead-up to the elections.
Additional Police Commissioner (Traffic) Md. Sarwar, BPM (Service), remarked that traffic management in Dhaka involves 25 agencies, not just the police. He called for a coordinated, multi-agency approach to effectively mitigate congestion.
Faruk Ahmed, Additional Police Commissioner (Administration), noted the national importance of the upcoming elections and the presence of international observers. He pledged to uphold the reputation of the police force by ensuring a fair and well-organized electoral process.
The meeting was also attended by Additional Commissioner (Crime & Operations) S. N. Md. Nazrul Islam, PPM, Additional Commissioner (Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime) Md. Masud Karim, joint commissioners, and other senior DMP officials.
Concluding the meeting, political party representatives reiterated their support for the Dhaka Metropolitan Police and committed to full cooperation in the interests of a peaceful and democratic election.
END/AHM/SMA/
Comment: