BNPT head urges officials to tigthen anti-terrorism measures for Eid

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Head of the National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) Mohammed Rycko Amelza Dahniel has called on all his officials to invest even greater efforts to thwart any acts related to terrorism ahead of Eid al-Fitr.

"We must step up preventive measures as well as alertness during the moment of Eid al-Fitr," he remarked during the inauguration of new officials in Bogor, West Java, on Thursday (April 4), as cited from BNPT's statement received here on Saturday (April 6).

He urged all BNPT officials to tighten security measures in order to ensure a secure and conducive 2024 Eid al-Fitr by taking into account the results of field assessments conducted by the agency.

Dahniel also addressed the newly inaugurated BNPT officials specifically, expecting them to quickly adapt to the new work environment to take part in ensuring that this year's Eid al-Fitr is free from matters related to terrorism.

"I want you to quickly adapt to the new environment, so that you can bolster preventive measures and vigilance, especially during Eid-al Fitr," he told the new officials.

Meanwhile, BNPT Secretary Bangbang Surono underscored the need for the agency to make breakthroughs and think creatively to deal with increasingly complex challenges presented by terrorism.

"Creative thoughts and acts are needed to address terrorism-related issues and challenges that have grown even more complex," he pointed out.

On the occasion, BNPT installed a total of 32 new employees, with eight of them being high-ranking officials.

Among the high-ranking officials were Commodore Imam Subekti as director of international law instruments, Marine Colonel Edy Cahyanto as head of the Administration and Internal Affairs Department, and Rachmat Surawibawa as head of the Supervision Sub-directorate.