Staff Reporter :
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has imposed restriction on holding outdoor programmes to celebrate the New Year-2018 on the night of 31 December.
The indoor programmes are legal with the permission from the police.
“No concerts, dances or events can be held in open areas in the Dhaka city, not on the rooftops either. Indoor celebrations are, however, allowed,” DMP Commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia said while briefing media on security measures ahead of the upcoming new year.
All kinds of New Year outdoor celebrations will remain prohibited. No gatherings and rallies will be allowed on the streets, road intersections and flyovers for security reasons.”
Five-star hotels, however, will be able to have New year parties with permission, he said.
Asked if there is any specific threat behind such strict measures, Asaduzzaman answered the DMP instructions are only part of its “preventive measures”.
No reckless driving and no use of crackers will be allowed on the night of the year end, the DMP chief said.
“Tough measures will be taken against anybody who disobeys these instructions” Asaduzzaman added.
The Hatirjheel area will remain off-limits from 8pm while entrance to the Dhaka University campus and the upscale neighbourhoods of Gulshan, Banani and Baridhara will be limited to residents only 8pm.
The DMP chief requested residents of these areas to return home by 6pm.
Vehicles carrying teachers and staff living in the Dhaka University campus will be allowed to enter through Nilkhet and the Shahbag entrances after 8pm upon showing proper identification.
Entry to the Gulshan area will be through the Kakoli and Amtali Crossing, Mia said.
Police will be alert against reckless driving, drunk driving and disorderly behaviour, he added.
Uniformed police, plainclothes detectives, the counterterrorism unit, SWAT, bomb disposal teams and dog squads will be deployed to ensure security, the police commissioner added.
