Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)- Police and Rapid Action Battalion have taken stringent security measures in the capital for the celebrations of Pahela Baishakh on Sunday.
The Dhaka Metropolitan Police authorities urged the venue authorities to wrap up celebration programs at Ramna Batamul by 5:00pm and elsewhere by 7:00pm.
“Law enforcers will do their level best to tackle any untoward incident during the celebration but people should remain vigilant and inform the nearby police if anything suspicious is noticed,” DMP Commissioner Benazir Ahmed told reporters on Friday.
He also said the festival points will be smoking-free zones and people have been requested not to bring bags, flammable substances, knives and other weapons at the venues for the sake of security.
A good number of police — in uniform and plainclothes — will be deployed in and around the venues.
To keep a close watch on the festival-goers, police will set up monitoring cells around the venues. It will also set up lost-and-found centres and assistance booths to extend necessary support to people.
Meanwhile, RAB sources said some 5,520 personnel will be deployed across the country. Of them, 2,520 will be kept on duty in the capital throughout the day.
RAB will also deploy dog squad and bomb disposal units at different venues.
Law enforcers will install closed-circuit cameras at different points of some important venues and people will be frisked at the entry points of venues.
On the day, vehicular movement will be restricted on roads from Bangla Motor to Kakrail intersection, from Shahbagh to High Court via Matsya Bhaban, from Nilkhet crossing to Teachers-Students Centre (TSC) of Dhaka University, from Plassey intersection to Doyel Chattar via Shaheed Minar and from Bakshi Bazar intersection to TSC crossing via Jagannath Hall.
BBN/SSR/AD-13Apr13-11:38 am (BST)
