Security tightened at JM Sen Hall Durga Puja venue ahead of PM's Ctg visit
Special Response Battalion (SRB)-7 will serve as the striking force during the visit.
Security has been tightened at the historic JM Sen Hall Durga Puja venue in Rahmatganj, Chattogram, ahead of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's visit on 20 October, with additional police deployment and increased surveillance by plainclothes intelligence personnel.
The prime minister is scheduled to visit the venue at 6pm. Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP) Deputy Commissioner (Public Relations) Aminur Rashid told The Business Standard that all CMP units had been instructed to coordinate security arrangements, with intelligence agencies also involved. A preparatory meeting was held with the police commissioner, divisional commissioner, deputy commissioner and other officials.
He said the number of police personnel assigned to security could not be disclosed.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
Special Response Battalion (SRB)-7 will serve as the striking force during the visit. On Saturday morning (17 October), a team led by its commander, Lt Col Md Mostafizur Rahman, inspected the venue with trained sniffer dogs.
Lt Col Mostafizur Rahman told TBS today that representatives of the Special Security Force (SSF) had attended coordination meetings. Uniformed personnel and plainclothes intelligence officers will be deployed at key intersections, public gathering sites and other areas linked to the visit.
He added that SRB-7 camps were monitoring the situation ahead of Durga Puja, including online efforts to spread rumours and disrupt communal harmony.
CMP Commissioner Hasan Md Shawkot Ali said a multi-layered security plan had been drawn up for the prime minister's visit and Durga Puja. "There is no threat so far," he said, adding that police were coordinating with puja committees and other stakeholders to prevent any untoward incidents.
More than 20,000 members of the police, SRB, Ansar and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have been deployed across Chattogram city and district under a four-tier security arrangement for Durga Puja, according to sources.
Meanwhile, Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) is repairing and beautifying key roads between Shah Amanat International Airport and JM Sen Hall. Its officials and magistrates are also overseeing order at puja venues, while cleaning work is underway to facilitate visitors.
The CCC has provided Tk14.7 lakh to 294 puja venues across 16 police station areas. Additional grants include Tk5 lakh for JM Sen Hall, Tk15 lakh for Kusumkumari Puja venue in Jamal Khan and Tk2 lakh for Harijan communities in four CCC staff colonies — bringing the total to Tk36.7 lakh.
JM Sen Hall Puja Celebration Council General Secretary Advocate Nikhil Kanti Nath told TBS, "This year's puja budget was around Tk25 lakh. However, additional preparations for the prime minister's visit could raise the cost to around Tk30 lakh." He said CCTV cameras were being installed and arrangements made in coordination with the administration and law enforcement agencies.
Prime minister's schedule
Tarique Rahman is scheduled to arrive at Shah Amanat International Airport at 5:30pm on 20 October and visit JM Sen Hall at 6pm. He is expected to reach Chattogram Circuit House at 6:45pm, leave for the airport at 7:45pm and depart for Dhaka at 8:30pm, arriving at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 9:15pm.
