The Bangladeshi government is planning to curb people's entry to the capital city as part of tightened security measures ahead of the forthcoming summit of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) in face of Islamic militants' attack and opposition's agitation programs.

According to an official announcement, the government will take strict steps in limiting people's entry to the capital of Dhaka and will not allow anyone to hold gatherings inside the security areas from the first week of November.

As part of foolproof security during the 13th SAARC summit slated for November 12-13, over 21,000 security personnel will be deployed in the capital.

Some 1,845 members of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) will be posted at 10 key areas here. The RAB will also patrol the rivers, including the Buriganga and Turag surrounding the capital, during the summit. Besides, two helicopters will fly reconnaissance missions overhead while five dog squads and three bomb disposal units will be deployed in the capital.

Meanwhile, the home ministry Friday set a bounty of 5 million taka (about 77,000 US dollars) each on top leaders of two banned Islamic outfits, Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) chief Abdur Rahman and Jagrata Muslim Janata Bangladesh (JMJB) operations commander Siddiqul Islam Alias Bangla Bhai.

The two Islamic militant outfits were accused of launching the Aug. 17 country-wide bomb blasts, in which three people were killed and over 150 others injured. Over 400 suspects were arrested by police after the bomb blasts, most of them were JMB members.

The Islamic militants, however, are threatening to launch fresh attacks for the implementation of Islamic law in the country.

Headed by former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, the main opposition the Awami League Friday strongly criticized the security measures announced by the government, claiming that the government is hatching conspiracy to carry out "mass arrest" on the excuse of ensuring security for the 13th SAARC summit. The Awami League-led opposition alliance of 14 parties is scheduled to hold a grand rally in the capital on Nov. 15.

The opposition planned to announce tougher agitation programs at the rally including hartal (destructive strike), long march and blockade, as part of its oust-government movement.

General Secretary of the Awami League Abdul Jalil said on Friday that the opposition will hold the Nov. 15 grand rally at any cost. If the government tortures opposition leaders and activists ahead of the SAARC summit, "it will be their last such move," he threatened.

Source: Xinhua