No specific intelligence of attacks on police vehicles, only a 'reminder'

The recent alert issued to police nationwide regarding potential attacks on their vehicles was not based on any specific intelligence input, but rather a regular 'reminder' as part of routine security measures, said Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Additional Commissioner (DB) Md Shafiqul Islam.

He made the remarks at a press conference at the DMP Media Centre on Sunday (August 2) in response to a question.

"We are responsible for ensuring the security of people's lives and property. Alongside that, we must also look after our own security, so we issue such alerts regularly. Recently, there have been bomb scares and false rumours circulating. We are actively working on these matters. To ensure our own security remains intact, such alerts are given from time to time. Similar directives have been issued before," he said.

He added that with recent attempts to create panic through a mix of truth and falsehood, a cautionary reminder has been issued to ensure police personnel remain extra vigilant.

When asked whether there was any specific intelligence about attacks on law enforcement, he replied, "No, nothing that specific. But we remain alert at all times. Our senior officers supervise us. This reminder is for those of us in the field to be more cautious."

On the Motijheel umbrella bomb incident, the DB chief said the investigation is being handled by the Counter-Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit, with the DB conducting a shadow investigation. "We are trying to identify and arrest those involved. However, our investigation is ongoing, so we cannot say anything more at this time."

When asked whether any organisation was found to be behind the incidents, he said, "There will be one or two people. This is not something done as a lone individual. If someone does it, they do it to promote a mandate or their ideology."

On Saturday (August 1), the Police Headquarters' Operations Control Room sent an emergency message to all field units, directing them to strengthen security measures. The message warned that members of militant groups or miscreants might target police jeeps, pickups, buses and other vehicles. It also ordered that no police vehicle be left unattended.

Although the Police Headquarters did not issue an official statement on the matter, its AIG (Media) A H M Shahadat Hossain told the media that such directives are regularly issued to keep police personnel active and alert, adding that there is no reason to panic.

Meanwhile, multiple bomb scares have occurred in the capital over the past week. On July 24, police defused a powerful IED found inside an umbrella under the Motijheel metro station. It was later reported that the device had been placed targeting the route of the Hindu community's Ulto Rath Yatra procession. The following day, a sack with an umbrella protruding from it caused panic in front of the Bangladesh Bank, though no explosives were found.