Photo : Collected

DHAKA, June 23, 2026 (BSS) - The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has taken extensive and comprehensive security measures to ensure the peaceful, orderly and solemn observance of holy Ashura, including the Tazia processions and mourning programmes in the capital.

Special preparations have been made to maintain the law and order, manage traffic and ensure overall public safety, Mosleh Uddin Ahmed, Commissioner of DMP said while briefing journalists after inspecting the security arrangements at Hosseini Dalan Imambara in the old part of the city today.

He said that a total of 63 Tazia processions will be organized by 28 Imambaras under different divisions of the DMP including Lalbagh, Wari, Ramna, Tejgaon, Motijheel and Mirpur during the first 10 days of Muharram. Of these, 10 processions will be held between 1 and 7 Muharram, 10 on 8 Muharram, 19 on 9 Muharram, and 24 on 10 Muharram. 

Security arrangements and designated routes have been finalized for every procession, he added. 

Barricades, pickets, route lining and rooftop surveillance teams have been deployed around each procession route and major congregation point, he said, adding that sensitive and important venues, including Hosseini Dalan Imambara, are being monitored round-the-clock through drone and CCTV surveillance. 

To prevent any act of sabotage or untoward incident, specialized units of DMP, the Special Branch, the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit’s dog squads and bomb disposal teams will conduct thorough inspections of all venues and procession routes. Digital screening through archway gates and metal detectors, along with manual checks, will be carried out at Imambaras and gathering points.

A temporary sub-control room has also been set up at Hosseini Dalan. Important religious sites, including Hosseini Dalan Imambara, Anjuman Haidari, Bara Katra Imambara, Shia Mosque, Bibika Rowza and the Bihari camps in Mirpur and Mohammadpur, have been placed under special police surveillance and continuous CCTV monitoring.

The DMP’s SWAT team, bomb disposal unit, dog squad, crime scene unit, Detective Branch (DB) and other specialized units will remain on standby as striking forces to respond to any emergency situation.
Regarding traffic management, the commissioner said the main Tazia procession on June 26 will begin at 10 am from the northern gate of Hosseini Dalan and proceed through Bakshibazar, Azimpur, Nilkhet, Dhaka College, Science Laboratory intersection, Dhanmondi Road No. 2, BGB gate no. 4 and Sat Masjid Road before concluding at Dhanmondi Lake (Karbala).

Specific traffic diversions will be enforced along the route and city residents have been requested to use the alternative roads to avoid congestion during the programme.

Considering the long procession route and large gatherings, fire tenders and ambulances will remain deployed for emergency response. In addition, trained divers from the Fire Service and Civil Defence will be stationed near the water body adjacent to Dhanmondi Lake (Karbala) to ensure public safety.

The DMP commissioner urged organizers to deploy an adequate number of volunteers equipped with identification cards or designated uniforms to assist police in maintaining order. 

Existing restrictions on ‘pike’ or self-flagellation practices must be strictly maintained. 

He further instructed that banners used in the procession must not exceed 12 feet in height. Participants will not be allowed to carry any sharp metallic objects, flammable materials, knives, machetes, sticks, swords, spears, bags, bundles, or suitcases.

Entry with suspicious items such as bags, suitcases, umbrellas, pressure cookers or unidentified packages and boxes will also be prohibited.

The use of high-volume sound systems, public address systems, drums and other loud musical instruments will not be permitted. Fireworks and all forms of firecrackers have also been completely banned.

Traffic diversions will remain in effect from 10:00 a.m. on June 26 until the conclusion of the processions. Motorists and commuters have been advised to use alternative routes to facilitate smooth movement and minimize traffic congestion.

To prevent the spread of misinformation and rumors online, cyber patrols and social media monitoring activities will be conducted by specialized teams.

The commissioner urged the public to immediately inform on-duty police officers, the DMP traffic control room, the police control room, or the national emergency service 999 if they notice any suspicious person, object, or unattended bag along the procession routes or near Imambaras.

He expressed his hope that, with the cooperation of religious leaders, political representatives, members of various religious organizations and conscious citizens, the holy Ashura observances would be completed peacefully, safely, and in an orderly manner.

Senior DMP officials, including Additional Commissioners S N Md. Nazrul Islam and Md. Shafiqul Islam, along with other police officers, were present during the briefing.