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| Bangladesh |
| Raids upon alert |
| 2009-08-17 |
| [Bangla Daily Star] Law enforcement agencies conducted raids in various parts of the country, including Chittagong and Rajshahi on Saturday night and early yesterday following an alert message from the police headquarters on possible militant attacks. Police patrols have also been enhanced in different places across the country following the alarms that militant attacks could take place in public gatherings or important government establishments in between August 15 and 21. However, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Nur Mohammad denied sending any special alert on Saturday night. "We always keep our forces on alert so that law and order is maintained," he told The Daily Star yesterday. Asked about the special drives conducted in Chittagong and Rajshahi, he said the drives were on their own initiatives. Our staff correspondent from Chittagong adds: the Chittagong metropolitan police (CMP) conducted an hour-long drive in the port city on Saturday night, apprehending militant attacks on public gatherings or police establishments. According to CMP, police headquarters in Dhaka received information that a militant attack might take place on any public assembly or police establishments in the port city in between 11:45pm and 12:10am on the days. Informed by the police headquarters, CMP police conducted the drive for an hour till 12:45am yesterday by setting up 38 check-posts at different points of the city, CMP Deputy Commissioner (north) Engineer Banaj Kumar Majumder told The Daily Star. They searched vehicles plying the roads and also strengthened security of different important establishments. Teams from Rab 7 of Chittagong also patrolled the city from 9:00pm on Saturday to 5:00am yesterday. When contacted, Rab 7 Commanding Officer Lt Col Zahidur Rahim said some 16 patrol teams have been deployed in the city while security has been beefed up in Feni and Cox's Bazar. Police also enhanced patrol and started conducting predawn raids in Rajshahi city and 16 other northern districts following the alert. Senior police officials of Rajshahi metropolitan police (RMP) and Rajshahi division confirmed that they are conducting raids in all important places following the directives from the high-ups. Reports received from other districts, including Natore, Chapainawabganj and Naogaon said that police patrolled the towns and kept vigil. |
| Posted by:Fred |