Staff Reporter:
The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner SM Sazzat Ali yesterday said they have found no security threat regarding the celebrations of the Pahela Baishakh, the first Day of Bangla New Year.
“There is no security threat over the Pahela Baishakh celebrations. However, we have taken com-prehensive security measures, dividing the metropolitan area into 21 sectors to ensure a peaceful celebration of the festival,” the DMP Commissioner said while talking to journalists after inspect-ing security arrangements at Ramna Batamul in capital’s Ramna Park.
The DMP chief sought enthusiastic cooperation from all so that everyone, regardless of race, reli-gion or caste, can celebrate the Pahela Baishakh without any disruption.
About security measures, the DMP chief said they have deployed a sufficient number of uniformed and plainclothes policemen to ensure peaceful celebration of the festival.
Important venues will be swept by dog squads and brought under constant CCTV surveillance. In addition, drones will monitor Ramna Batamul and the Ananda Shovajatra procession routes round the clock, he added.
Earlier in the day, DMP’s Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit, SWAT, Bomb Disposal Team, and K-9 Unit conducted a security drill at Ramna Batamul to simulate emergency response scenarios.
People have to pass through archways and hand-held metal detectors to enter event venues, partic-ularly Ramna Batamul. The DMP Commissioner urged the public to cooperate with law enforce-ment officials during security checks for everyone’s safety.
No masks, bags, sharp objects and flammable materials will be allowed to be brought to the venue, while programs at the event must be completed within the stipulated time.
The DMP Commissioner called upon all not to come to the venues with lanterns or fireworks and flutes which can cause noise.
He said adequate foot patrols and security arrangements have been put in place around the venue and along the procession route.
A sufficient number of observation towers have already been set up to monitor important places at the venues and forces have been deployed on the rooftops to make the security foolproof, Sazzat said.
The DMP chief said a special team was entrusted with preventing hawkers from entering the venue and creating any untoward situation.
Plainclothes policemen have been deployed to prevent eve-teasing, robbery and pick pocketing, he said.
A ‘Lost and Found Center’ has been set up inside Ramna Park and Suhrawardy Udyan.
Intelligence surveillance and cyber patrolling have been heightened to curb spreading of false in-formation leading to chaotic situations.
