Pahela Baishakh Security
DMP issues instructions for festival goers
Home Minister Shahara Khatun watches a bomb disposal robot, the first of its kind in the country, as it showcases its skills on the Ramna Batamul premises yesterday ahead of the Pahela Baishakh today, the first day of the Bangla new year.Photo: STAR
Law enforcers have tightened security and issued traffic and necessary instructions to make today's celebration of Pahela Baishakh smooth and pleasant for Dhaka city people. Thousands of people will flock to different festival grounds across the capital as well as the country to welcome Bangla New Year 1419 in high spirits today. As part of the security measures, the law enforcers have introduced a security robot, which is able to identify bombs, explosives and dispose them automatically. The robot named Improvised Exclusive Device (IED) can be navigated through remote control, Rab officials told journalists after a security demonstration at Ramna Park yesterday. Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) and Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) requested the festival goers to follow the security instructions while visiting Ramna Park, Suhrawardy Udyan, Dhaka University, and Rabindra Sarobar, where the main celebratory programmes will be held. They are asked to enter Ramna Park using Arunodoy gate (opposite Sugandha), Ramna Restaurant gate, and Notun gate and to leave the park using Uttarayan and Boishakhi gate. Kakrail Mosque gate and Star gate (near Matsyabhaban) will be open as both entry and exit. In a press release, the DMP requested people to use Engineering Institute gate, TSC gate and the gate near Doel Chattar of DU to enter Suhrawardy Udyan and use Shishu Park gate and Kali temple gate as exit. Shikha Chironton gate will keep close today. Parents were requested to write down their phone number and address and keep it in the pocket of their children's clothes so that it can help law enforcers if any child is lost. In case anyone got lost, relatives should immediately inform Police Sub-Control Room at Ramna Park, the instructions say. Festival goers are also requested not to carry any luggage and leave Ramna Park and Suhrawardi Udyan area within 6:00pm. Festival goers can park their vehicles at Old Elephant Road, Minto Road, Karpet Goli at Segun Bagicha, from Kataban to Polashi intersection, from High Court to Abdul Gani road, and from Curzon Hall to Fulbaria. Roads from Bangla Motor intersection to High Court intersection, from Ruposhi Bangla Hotel intersection to Minto Road-Matsya Bhaban, from Nilkhet intersection to TSC, from Palashi to Doel Chattar, and from Bakshi Bazar to Jagannath Hall will be closed for traffic today. About 50,000 law enforcers will be deployed at different points in and outside the capital, while 14,000 law enforcers will keep vigil at Ramna Batamul, DU campus, Rabindra Sarobor and other spots. The law enforcers have installed surveillance cameras (CCTVs), observation posts, outposts, and sub-posts to ensure security.
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