Bangladesh capital on high alert ahead of religious festivals

Sep 23, 2008, 7:42 GMT

Dhaka - Police and other security forces were placed on a state of high alert in the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka Tuesday ahead of the biggest religious festivals of the Muslim and Hindu communities, law enforcement officials said.

A high level meeting of security officials also decided to install close circuit cameras and set up a police control room inside the Dhakeshwari national temple which is the main venue of the Durga Puja festival which celebrates the Hindu Goddess Durga.

'We are taking all steps necessary to ensure maximum security to the religious devotees gathering at the temple,' said the capital's police commissioner Naim Ahmed.

At an overnight meeting with Hindu leaders the Dhaka police chief also assured the security of 165 temporary temples for the Hindu Goddess Durga spread across the capital for the worshippers.

The annual Hindu celebrations this year are closely followed by the three-day Eid al-Fitr festival, which marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan, of the majority Bangladeshi Muslims which begins September 30.

More than 5,000 extra security personnel are to be deployed during the festivals of the two communities.

Home Ministry sources said the additional security alert was needed because of the latest bomb attacks by suspected Islamic terror groups on high profile targets in South Asian countries causing deaths and destruction.

Tens of thousands of Dhaka residents are expected to leave the overcrowded capital and head for their rural homes for the extended holidays.

Police said they would station plainclothes police at crowded ferry and bus terminals.

More than 80 per cent of the 140 million Bangladeshis are Muslims while the remaining are Hindus, Buddhists, Christians and animists.