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Shopowners of the city requested the State Minister for Home Affairs Lutfuzzaman Babar to beef up stringent security measures for their personal lives and businesses.
During a meeting with Babar shopowners said, "City's businessmen are passing tense days as unknown groups continuously giving them death threats and also threatening to blow up their shops with bombs."
The minister assured the delegation of shopowners of taking all security measures to make their lives safe and keep the businesses free from any hazard of threat.
It is not possible for the government alone to ensure security and safety of people, said Babar and sought cooperation from all.
"To provide security to businessmen is a moral obligation as they are not only the citizens of the nation but also they have a vital role in development process of the country.
"We are exhorting all to come forward to extend their helping hand in stamping out terrorism and the networks of terrorist activities," Babar said.
Shopowners' Association president Helaluddin said, "In the backdrop of frequent bomb blasts in religious establishments, shopping malls, cultural and social functions, political gatherings, court premises, we are not out of danger."
They also alleged that some influential political leaders, top terrors and policemen get money from smugglers of drugs, a prime cause of the spread of terrorism.
"If drug peddling can be destroyed, terrorist incidents will come down," the delegation, led by Association president Md Helaluddin, told the State Minister at his office.
They demanded rehabilitation of hawkers at eight designated places of Dhaka City within the next 15 days in consultation with Dhaka City Corporation, or else, the Association will go for agitation.
The Association that represents about 250 markets and shopping malls in the capital demanded import of tax-free metal detectors and CCTVs for installation at their markets as delegation members complained that they are receiving threats from terrorist groups seeking money.
They also urged the State Minister to evict the Balurmath Slum at Mirpur Mazar Road allegedly used for drug trading and training of terrorists. They also informed the minister that some 568 groups are operating in the city who are using various tactics to deceive the people.
Babar asked the police, DB and RAB to take necessary actions against the drug traders and criminals.
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