Dhaka, Oct 24: Faced with rising incidents of crime in Bangladesh, Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's government has decided to step up security for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. At a meeting of the home ministry officials here yesterday, it was decided that 15 summary courts will be set in Dhaka to try accused like extortionist and muggers on the spot.

"We have taken all necessary measures to check all sorts of criminal acts during Ramadan so that people can pass the holy month peacefully and go for Eid shopping without any trouble," state Minister for Home Affairs Lutfuzzaman Babar was quoted as telling the meeting.

As per the decision, Dhaka city will be divided into 450 zones and 40 patrol teams of para-military BDR, police and armed police battalion will be deployed as strike forces in the city capital to swing into quick action.
Subject to the visibility of the moon, the holy month will start from either Sunday or Monday.

Plain clothes police will also be deployed in markets and shopping malls throughout the country.


Moreover, security forces will be on duty on highways and at ferry and bus terminals to protect passengers from robbers and from harassment by ticket touts. Incidentally the decision to tighten security was taken on the same day when hundreds of people formed a human chain demanding among others good governance, improvement of law and order and end of extortion and toll collection.

Bureau Report