Remain alert to protect city sculptures: DMP chief

Against the backdrop two sculptures being vandalised in Kushtia recently, Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Shafiqul Islam today asked field level police personnel to remain alert to foil any attempts to damage sculptures in the city.

He ordered deployment of plainclothes police members at all sculpture sites and bringing those under CCTV camera surveillance, if necessary.

The city police chief was speaking at a monthly crime conference at Rajarbagh Police lines auditorium where ranks of inspectors to police officers participated.

"The commissioner told us that the situation may take a serious turn in the district level if we cannot give protection to the sculptures in the city. So, we are on high alert," said a police officer who was present in the conference.

Mamunur Rashid, officer-in-charge of Shahbagh Police Station, said, "We increased our surveillance with mobile patrol teams and have taken other steps to ensure security to the sculptures in our jurisdiction."

Dhaka University, where there are many sculptures, falls under the jurisdiction area of the police station.

Some unidentified miscreants have vandalised a statue of British revolutionary leader Bagha Jatin on the campus premises of Kaya College in Kushtia's Kumarkhali upazila.

An under-construction sculpture of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was also vandalised in the district town on December 5.

The attack on the sculptures took place at a time when the ruling Awami League and several Islamist groups are at loggerheads over setting up sculptures.

In the crime conference, the DMP commissioner also urged all police personnel to perform their duties with caution and maintaining safety rules saying second-wave of Covid-19 infection has started world-wide.

He also directed police personnel to remain alert on the eve of Christmas Day and New Year celebration.