Dhaka Police Announce Sweeping Security Measures for Rath Yatra
A coordination meeting at Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Headquarters on July 12, 2026, finalized extensive security and traffic management plans for the upcoming Hindu Rath Yatra festival. The meeting, presided over by DMP Commissioner Mosleh Uddin Ahmed, outlined deployments for both the main Rath Yatra on July 16 and the Ulto Rath Yatra on July 24.
According to a DMP press release, the force will deploy picket parties, patrol parties, CCTV monitoring teams, foot patrols, rooftop parties, motorcycle mobiles, DB (Detective Branch) teams, plainclothes intelligence units, SWAT teams, bomb disposal squads, and traffic police. The measures aim to ensure the processions proceed along designated routes and conclude within specified timeframes.
Coordination Meeting Details
The meeting convened at 11:00 AM local time in the DMP Headquarters conference room. Senior officials, including Joint Police Commissioner (Operations) Mohammad Shahidullah, PPM, presented the overall security plan via a PowerPoint presentation. Attendees included DMP's Additional Police Commissioners for various portfolios, Joint Police Commissioners, Deputy Police Commissioners, and representatives from DGFI, NSI, SB, CID, Dhaka South City Corporation, Fire Service, and leaders of the Rath Yatra Celebration Committee.
Commissioner Ahmed directed Deputy Commissioners of each division to hold separate coordination meetings and maintain round-the-clock communication with local Rath Yatra celebration committees. He urged all relevant agencies to perform their duties diligently.
Specific Directives and Requests
A unanimous decision was reached to ensure the Rath Yatra concludes along designated routes and within specified timeframes. The DMP requested participants to refrain from playing loudspeakers or microphones during the adhan (call to Muslim prayer) and prayer times. Other requests included deploying dedicated volunteers, avoiding participation in the procession with bags or bundles, and immediately informing police upon spotting any suspicious person or object.
Commissioner Ahmed emphasized, "The Rath Yatra in the metropolitan city is a major procession. Since it draws large gatherings, everyone must remain highly vigilant and aware. The DMP will ensure foolproof security to celebrate the Rath Yatra smoothly, beautifully, and safely." He added that volunteers must wear designated vests, and plainclothes security personnel and lining forces will be deployed. He also urged caution regarding overhead electrical lines to prevent accidents.
Commitment to Safety
"Every moment of the Rath Yatra is important to us. Maximum security will be ensured with equal priority for both large and small-scale Rath Yatras. We hope that with everyone's cooperation, the festival will be completed peacefully," the Commissioner stated.
Senior DMP officials present included Additional Police Commissioner (Logistics, Finance, and Procurement) Md. Masud Karim, Additional Police Commissioner (DB) Md. Shafiqul Islam, BPM, PPM; Additional Police Commissioner (Protection and Diplomatic Security) Md. Abul Bashar Talukdar, Additional Police Commissioner (Estate, Development, and ICT) Mohammad Osman Gani, PPM; and Additional Police Commissioner (Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime) Mohammad Shamsul Haque.
