DHAKA, April 3, 2019 (BSS) – Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan today urged
all concerned to refrain from arranging any cultural programme after 6 pm on
the day of Pahela Baishakh celebration on April 14 for security reasons.
“The law enforcement agencies will remain vigilant so that no one can
continue any programme at open places after 6 pm and no one will be allowed
to enter the programme after 5 pm,” he told journalists after a meeting at
his office in the capital.
Public security division secretary Mostafa Kamal Uddin, Inspector
General of Police (IGP) Dr Javed Patwary and chiefs of different police units
as well as intelligence agencies were present at the meeting.
The minister said the meeting decided to ban the use of Vuvuzeala and
masks on faces during the ‘Mangal Shovajatra’, a mass procession that takes
place at dawn on the first day of the Bengali New Year.
The government has arranged tight security across the country including
Ramna Batamul, Rabindra Sarobar, Hatirjheel, Bangabandhu International
Conference Centre (BICC) and other public gatherings for smooth celebration
of the Pahela Baishakh, said Asaduzzaman, also a freedom fighter.
“We have taken all measures to ensure a fool-proof security for smooth
and peaceful celebration of the traditional Pahela Baishakh…law enforcement
agencies have been asked to beef up security at celebration venues,” he said.
The minister said adequate numbers of closed circuit cameras and watch
towers would be installed on all the important spots with deployment of
additional law enforcement agencies on the day to avert any unwanted
incident.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), Rapid Action Battalion, Special Branch
of Police, Criminal Investigation Department and Plain Clothe as well as
Battalion Police will be deployed and metal detector archways would be placed
at all the major celebration venues on the day, he said.
He said authorities will monitor the social media like Facebook, Twitter
and YouTube to avert misuse of those social media.
The minister said mobile courts, petrol teams, surveillance teams and
helicopters would monitor the Baishakhi programmes to avert untoward
situation. Besides, fire service rescue teams will be deployed at different
points.