The recent attack on an Ahmadiyya mosque in Baghmara upazila of Rajshahi could not be averted although law enforcers had advance information of possible militant attacks on religious minorities, including Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, specifically in the Rajshahi division. The community people also feared militant attacks and informed the local police, subsequently the police asked them to remain alert after. Salauddin Ahmed, a leader of Ahmadiyya Muslim community’s Rajshahi region, admitted that the police had told them to remain alert at least a month before Friday’s suicide attack in Baghmara that left the ‘attacker’ killed and 10 others injured.
Ahmed said at least one police official was regularly communicating with them on a daily basis, and requesting them to pass on information if they felt that any problem was arising. However, the incident could not be avoided.
Sources in police headquarters said after getting information of possible attacks in the Rajshahi area, they called the police superintendents for a meeting, and ordered them to take precautionary measures.
"About one month before the Baghmara attack on the Ahmadiyya community, we got intelligence information of possible attacks on different minorities, including the Ahmadiyya Muslim community," a source said.
Later, they held a meeting with all the SPs in the Rajshahi Range, the official said, adding that all officers concerned had been instructed to beef up security and take precautionary measures.
"The reason for the attack, despite the advance report, should be properly investigated," he said. "We are planning to investigate what security measures were actually taken," he added.
Talking to The Independent, AIG Md Nazrul Islam, (media and public relations) of the police headquarters, said, "Just like in the US, UK and China, through the local police, we are telling the minority community to take the help of policemen whenever they feel insecure."
"But all communities don't have equal security threats, which is why the local Ahmadiyya Muslim community could not attain the services of our cops in a timely manner," he added.
Rejecting any negligence from the cops' end, he said, "We are sacrificing our lives to ensure security for our countrymen. There are around 80,000 mosques in the country, where only 150,000 cops are deployed. Is it possible to provide fool-proof security for all by such few cops?" he said.
Deputy inspector-general of police (Rajshahi division), Iqbal Bahar, said, "Though we have given strict instructions to take precautionary measures, the militant attack still took place."
Regarding the failure to curb the attack, he said, "It does not mean that the SPs concerned did not obey orders. We all know that it is not possible to ensure 100 per cent security, to resist a single attack."
"Actually, we are unable to deploy required forces, whenever urgently needed, due to manpower shortage," the senior police official added.
Additional deputy inspector-general of police (Rajshahi division), Abdullah Al Mahmud, said "We normally discuss the security risks of minority communities, but we had no specific report regarding any possible militant attack on the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community."
Mozammel Haque, the Nagaon district police superintendent said, "After the recent attacks on foreigners and militant attacks in different areas of Rajshahi Division, we have been instructed to take extra precautionary measures."
Replying to a question, SP Mozammel Haque, who was awarded the best SP several times, said, "In my district, we have formed committees to maintain communal harmony, so that if any trouble is created, all communities can together resist the attacker."
Md Ashaduzzaman, the police superintendent of Bogra, where militants attacked a Shia gathering on November 26, told this correspondent that he has stepped up security measures because of the recent attacks in the Rajshahi division.