The recent directive for police personnel to remain vigilant amid reports of bomb scares and the discovery of suspicious objects across Bangladesh was not issued on the basis of any specific intelligence about an imminent attack on police vehicles, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Additional Commissioner (Detective Branch) Mohammad Shafiqul Islam has said.
He described the instruction as a reminder of routine security measures rather than a response to a particular threat.
Shafiqul Islam made the remarks at a press conference held at the DMP Media Centre on Sunday (2 August).
He said police officers are responsible for protecting the lives and property of the public, but must also take precautions to protect themselves while carrying out their duties. According to him, security instructions of this nature are issued from time to time as part of the police’s regular operational responsibilities.
The DMP official referred to several recent incidents involving bomb-related concerns and the circulation of what he described as false rumours. Against this backdrop, he said, the authorities wanted police personnel to remain alert and ensure that their own safety was not overlooked while responding to public security concerns.
Shafiqul Islam said similar instructions had been issued in the past to protect police vehicles and installations. The latest directive, he added, was intended to reinforce those existing precautions and remind officers to exercise greater vigilance.
His comments came a day after the Police Headquarters Operations Control Room sent an urgent message to field-level units across the country, calling for tighter security arrangements.
According to the message, vehicles used by the police, including jeeps, pick-up trucks and buses, could potentially be targeted by extremist groups or criminals. Police personnel were therefore instructed to take additional precautions when vehicles were temporarily stopped during operations. Such vehicles should be parked in secure locations and kept under police surveillance, the directive said.
The message also called for heightened security around vehicles kept at police stations, police lines and office compounds after duty hours. Regular patrols and surveillance were recommended, along with increased vigilance to identify suspicious individuals or objects.
The instructions come amid heightened attention to security following recent reports of bomb scares and suspicious items in different parts of the country. However, the DMP’s clarification indicates that the measures should not be interpreted as confirmation of a specific intelligence warning concerning an imminent attack on police vehicles.
The Police Headquarters has not issued a detailed formal statement on the matter. However, its Assistant Inspector General (Media), A H M Shahadat Hossain, told the media that such instructions are regularly issued to keep police personnel active and alert.
He said there was no reason for the public to panic.
The latest guidance, therefore, appears to be aimed primarily at reinforcing routine security practices within the police force. Authorities are also seeking to ensure that officers remain prepared to respond to genuine threats while avoiding unnecessary alarm caused by unverified information or rumours.
