Xi's Security: DMP to close one side of Airport Road

One side of Airport Road in the capital will be closed for 24 hours to ensure foolproof security for Chinese President Xi Jinping who arrives in Dhaka today for a two-day state visit.

The Chinese president is scheduled to land at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport around 11:40am.

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police yesterday said it would temporarily close the western side (outgoing from the city) of the Airport Road from Khilkhet to Munmun Kabab (Padma Oil) intersections from 10:00am today to 10:00am the next day.

Incoming and outgoing vehicles would ply on the eastern side of the road, said Masudur Rahman, deputy commissioner (media) of the DMP.

The DMP also requested long-route buses and trucks to use Beribadh-Mazar Road or Gabtoli Road to enter Dhaka instead of using Abdullahpur route.

SPEED BUMPS REMOVED

Keeping security measures in mind and making the Chinese president's visit to the National Memorial in Savar smooth, all speed bumps from Dhaka-Nabinagar part of the Dhaka-Aricha highway have been removed.  

The Roads and Highways Division removed the sleeping policemen yesterday.

Bangladesh Army's 9th Infantry Division in Savar Cantonment and Dhaka district police along with members of different intelligence agencies will provide security to the president during his visit to the National Memorial.  

“We have removed 44 speed bumps from both sides of the road to make the Chinese president's visit smooth,” said Ataur Rahman, executive engineer of Dhaka Road Division under the Roads and Highways Department.

He said they did it on the instruction from the Special Security Force (SSF).

Contacted, Mahbub Rahman, assistant superintendent of police at Savar Model Police Station, said Dhaka-Nabinagar highway would be off limits for vehicular movement from early morning tomorrow for the Chinese president's visit to the National Memorial.

He said Dhaka-bound vehicles would be diverted left from Nabinagar to use Ashulia-Mirpur-Beribadh road, while Nabinagar-bound vehicles would be diverted to Mazar Road at Gabtoli to use the Ashulia-Mirpur-Beribadh road.