Dhaka Police Deny Specific Intelligence Threat Behind Heightened Security Alerts
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Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) officials have clarified that the recent directive issued to law enforcement officers to heighten security measures is a proactive measure rather than a response to specific intelligence of an imminent threat. The order, which mandates increased vigilance across all police units, follows a series of reports regarding suspicious items and localized bomb scares throughout the capital.
Addressing reporters at the DMP Media Center on Sunday, Additional Commissioner and Chief of the Detective Branch (DB) Shafiqul Islam emphasized that there is no singular piece of intelligence prompting the alert. He described the directive as a routine reminder for field officers to remain vigilant, a standard practice supervised by senior leadership to ensure both public safety and the security of police personnel.
The heightened alert originated from a message sent Saturday by the Police Headquarters’ Operations Control Room. The directive specifically instructs officers to bolster security for police vehicles, including jeeps, pickups, and buses, which may be targeted by extremist groups or criminal elements. Officers have been ordered to ensure that vehicles are parked in secure locations, kept under constant surveillance, and that premises such as police stations and office compounds are monitored through regular patrols to prevent unauthorized access.
This security push follows a string of incidents that have rattled parts of the city. On July 24, police recovered and neutralized an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) near the Motijheel Metro Station. Subsequent scares—including a suspicious bag near the Bangladesh Bank and reports of a powerful bomb in Ashulia—have kept bomb disposal units active. Most recently, suspicious items identified at the Mirpur-10 and Farmgate metro stations were cleared by specialists, who found no explosive materials present.
Addressing the ongoing investigation into the Motijheel IED recovery, Commissioner Islam noted that the Counter-Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit is leading the probe, with the Detective Branch conducting a parallel investigation. While he declined to provide specific details regarding suspects or potential organizational links, he acknowledged that such acts are rarely committed by lone actors and are typically driven by ideological motives. He confirmed that efforts to identify and apprehend those responsible remain a top priority for the force.
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