Leave valuables with relatives or police before Eid travel: DMP

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has advised city residents to avoid leaving cash, gold ornaments or important documents unattended at home while travelling during the upcoming Eid al-Fitr holidays.

Speaking at a press briefing at the DMP Media Centre on Sunday (March 15), acting commissioner Md. Sarwar said, “Do not leave cash, gold ornaments or important documents unprotected at home. If possible, keep them at relatives’ houses,” adding, “Those who do not have relatives in the city can seek assistance from the police and deposit their valuables at a police station.”

The DMP has intensified patrols and increased checkpoint operations to prevent criminal activities during the holiday period, when parts of the capital become relatively deserted.

Special monitoring will be in place in residential, commercial and diplomatic areas.

Residents were also urged to install or activate closed-circuit cameras at their homes and ensure that doors and windows are properly locked before leaving.

Authorities advised maintaining adequate lighting around residential premises and checking electricity, gas and water connections before departing.

Sarwar also requested residents to immediately inform police if they notice any suspicious activity in their neighbourhoods during the holiday period.

He added that heightened security measures have been taken in view of several ongoing events and concerns, including the book fair, the first session of the National Parliament of Bangladesh, heightened tensions in the Middle East, and an upcoming cricket match between Bangladesh national cricket team and Pakistan national cricket team.

Special operations, including block raids in crime-prone areas, are also continuing to curb muggers, drug-related offences and juvenile gangs.

To ease traffic congestion during Ramadan, more than 600 additional traffic police officers have been deployed alongside regular personnel, he said.

Security arrangements have also been strengthened around the capital’s four major bus terminals, the launch terminal and the railway station to facilitate safe travel.

DMP magistrates are also conducting mobile courts with the assistance of the traffic division to prevent unfit vehicles from operating on city roads.

Residents were further advised to avoid several major outbound routes from Dhaka unless necessary, including Abdullahpur, Gulistan to Signboard, Aminbazar, Mirpur Road, the Fulbaria–Tatibazar–Babubazar Bridge route, the Gulistan–Buriganga Bridge route, the Mohammadpur–Bosila Bridge road and the Fulbaria–Sadarghat terminal area.