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The authorities have planned to bring the venue of Biswa Ijtema at Tongi under a security blanket as the second largest religious congregation of the Muslims after Hajj begins on January 27, reports UNB.
Some 22,000 security personnel, including police, RAB, paramilitary BDR, Armed Police Battalion (APBN) and Ansar, will be deployed in and around the venue on the bank of Turag River to ensure foolproof security of the devotees.
The decision was taken at a high-profile meeting on law and order situation, particularly keeping the Ijtema in mind, at the Ministry of Home Affairs with State Minister Lutfozzaman Babar in the chair. Senior officials of the law enforcement agencies were present.
"All sorts of security measures are in our minds to face any situation... this is for obvious reasons," Babar said.
Fifty-four close-circuit TV and 20 video cameras will be installed for the first time in the congregation as a five-layer security check has been planned to make sure each and every individual is screened in.
Elite force Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) will fly over the venue in three helicopters while Criminal Investigation Department (CID) will be responsible for preventing snatching and pick-pocketing.
Some 315 BRTC (Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation) special buses will be pressed into service to facilitate movement of the devotees who will step into the venue only through 18 designated points.
The authorities are also planning to transport devotees from Sadarghat to the venue through waterway up to Ashulia in a bid to reduce traffic pressure on the city.
Bangladesh Army will set up and maintain five pontoons on the Turag River to facilitate movement of the devotees.
Each and every vehicle will come under the security check while plainclothes police will guard all the 24 'Khittas', regional blocks for the devotees.
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