Pahela Baishakh

‘No wearing of masks during celebrations’

Home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said all programmes to celebrate Pahela Baishakh, the first day of the Bangla new year on April 14, will have to concluded by 6pm to avoid any untoward incident.

“We've taken the decision to ensure public safety on that day,” he told reporters at the home ministry right after coming out of a meeting on maintaining law and order on Pahela Baishakh. Chiefs of different law enforcement agencies and the intelligence agencies and senior ministry officials were present at the meeting.

The minister said no one would be allowed to wear masks at Mongol Shobhajatra, a colourful procession that will start from the Faculty of Fine Arts of Dhaka University. “Loud noise made by vuvuzela and match lighters will not be allowed during the Baishakh celebrations,” he added.

“Mongol Shobhajatra will be cordoned off by the police and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) because of security reasons,” he also said.

“The whole city and all the venues of Pahela Baishakh programmes will be under CCTV-camera surveillance,” he added. However, the home minister claimed that there was no terror threat to the Pahela Baishakh celebrations across the country.  He said that mobile court teams would be deployed in the celebration areas to avoid subversive activities. “Plainclothes officers and river police will also be on duty to prevent any criminal activities, including sexual harassment,” he added. He also said that the authorities concerned would also monitor social networking sites.

Pahela Baishakh

No wearing of masks during celebrations

Home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said all programmes to celebrate Pahela Baishakh, the first day of the Bangla new year on April 14, will have to concluded by 6pm to avoid any untoward incident. Weve taken the decision to ensure public safety on that day, he told reporters at the home ministry right after coming out of a meeting on maintaining law and order on Pahela Baishakh. Chiefs of different law enforcement agencies and the intelligence agencies and senior ministry officials were present at the meeting. The minister said no one would be allowed to wear masks at Mongol Shobhajatra, a colourful procession that will start from the Faculty of Fine Arts of Dhaka University. Loud noise made by vuvuzela and match lighters will not be allowed during the Baishakh celebrations, he added. Mongol Shobhajatra will be cordoned off by the police and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) because of security reasons, he also said. The whole city and all the venues of Pahela Baishakh programmes will be under CCTV-camera surveillance, he added. However, the home minister claimed that there was no terror threat to the Pahela Baishakh celebrations across the country. He said that mobile court teams would be deployed in the celebration areas to avoid subversive activities. Plainclothes officers and river police will also be on duty to prevent any criminal activities, including sexual harassment, he added. He also said that the authorities concerned would also monitor social networking sites.