As the clock struck midnight yesterday, fireworks lit up the sky over Dhaka city to ring in the New Year despite a police ban on open-air programmes, rooftop parties, and fireworks. Five-star hotels in the city hosted programmes and many of the buildings were decorated with lights to celebrate the occasion.

Students of Dhaka University celebrated New Year’s Eve on the campus amid tight security. However, youths in the TCS area in the vicinity of the university released thousands of balloons and burst crackers in celebration.

Meanwhile, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police had arranged for tight security across the city to implement its earlier ban on loud and chaotic revelries. As a result, celebrations were a bit muted in Gulshan, Banani, Baridhara and Dhaka University areas.

There were also certain restrictions on entry in these areas on Sunday evening. From 8pm onwards on Sunday, the Hatirjheel area was also declared a no-entry zone for ordinary people.