Ahead of the Awami League’s announced ‘lockdown’ programme on November 13, authorities have intensified security measures nationwide, ensuring public safety and maintaining law and order. 

Home Affairs Adviser Jahangir Alam Chowdhury and Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Sheikh Md Sajjat Ali provided detailed updates on preparations during separate briefings on Tuesday.

Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said security patrols have been stepped up across the country, with special attention given to Key Point Installations (KPIs). “We have intensified our patrols, strengthened security at KPIs, and temporarily suspended roadside fuel sales to prevent incidents that could trigger unrest,” he said after a meeting of the advisory council committee on law and order at the Secretariat.

He added that critical zones, including tribunal areas and metro rail routes, are now under heightened surveillance. In addition, the government has finalised the procurement of body-worn cameras for law enforcement personnel, with the process expected to conclude in the coming days. Training for officers assigned to election duties is nearing completion, followed by operational rehearsals.

Regarding personnel deployment during the election period, Jahangir Alam said around 1.5 lakh police officers, 1 lakh army personnel, 35,000 Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) members, 5.5 lakh Ansar members, and 4,500 navy and 4,000 coast guard personnel will remain on duty. 

Operations to recover illegal firearms are also being intensified, while border forces remain on high alert to prevent militant infiltration. Special checkpoints and vehicle inspections will be conducted in sensitive areas to safeguard public security.

Meanwhile, DMP Commissioner Sheikh Md Sajjat Ali reassured Dhaka residents that there is no reason for panic. 

The Dhaka city dwellers will stand against the Awami League’s subversive activities. There is no cause for concern or fear,” he said during a press briefing at the DMP Media Centre. He stressed that a significant number of police personnel, supported by other law enforcement agencies, would be deployed throughout the capital to maintain peace.

The Commissioner urged citizens to remain vigilant, advising against providing shelter to unknown individuals and ensuring proper verification before renting out motorcycles or vehicles. Residents are also requested to report any suspicious movement immediately via the national emergency helpline 999.

Providing an update on recent violence, Sajjat Ali said that from October to November 11, political groups and affiliated organisations have carried out 17 incidents of cocktail explosions and 14 flash processions in Dhaka. 

In the past 24 hours alone, nine vehicles were torched, leading to 17 cases filed and 50 arrests. Since October, a total of 552 individuals have been detained in connection with such acts. CCTV footage indicates that perpetrators often wear helmets and masks, carry out attacks during dawn or rush hours, and sometimes use underage boys to detonate cocktails.

The DMP Commissioner reaffirmed the police’s commitment to protecting lives and property, urging citizens to cooperate with law enforcement to prevent any attempts at destabilising the capital.

With tight security measures in place across the country, authorities are emphasising vigilance and civic responsibility to ensure the November 13 programme passes without incident.