Odisha Additional Director General of Police (ADG) for Law and Order, Sanjay Kumar, said on Wednesday that coastal security has been put on high alert and patrols have been increased along the seaside and coastal areas of the state in response to the political crisis in Bangladesh.
He emphasised that preventing any form of infiltration or illegal immigration in the state is the primary responsibility of the Odisha Police.
“Our boats and other equipment and our surveillance team of the 18 marine police stations have been sensitized all the officers are there… In the seaside and the coastal side, patrolling has been intensified and it’s our prime duty… We will not allow any type of infiltration or illegal immigration,” ADG Kumar told ANI.
He also said that the state ADG for coastal security has been informed to keep in touch with the coastguards and Navy officers.
“We are keeping a close watch over the political turmoil that happened two days back in Bangladesh… any problem created there by the miscreants may affect our areas also so we have alerted our coastal security people… talked to ADG coastal security. All the marine police stations have been sensitised, and we have also requested ADG coastal security to keep in touch with the coastguards and Navy officers… We just don’t want any kind of illegal infiltration,” Odisha ADG told ANI.
“We have a very long coast, more than 450 km so not only coastal security but local police have also been sensitised, and we are ready to meet any situation. I hope the situation will not escalate but at the same time, we are keeping a close watch over the security scenario,” ADG Kumar told ANI.
Bangladesh is facing a fluid political situation, with Sheikh Hasina tendering her resignation from her post in the wake of mounting protests on August 5. The protests, led mainly by students demanding an end to the quota system for government jobs, evolved into anti-government demonstrations.
A day after Sheikh Hasina resigned as Prime Minister of Bangladesh and left the country, President Mohammed Shahabuddin announced the dissolution of the country’s parliament to make way for the formation of an interim administration, Dhaka Tribune reported.
Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus has been appointed as the head of Bangladesh’s interim government, Dhaka Tribune reported. Bangladesh President’s Press Secretary, Joynal Abedin, made the announcement.
The decision regarding the appointment of Bangladesh’s interim government head was made during a meeting between President Shahabuddin and the coordinators of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement.