New Year's Eve to see tight security
The government has taken up heavy security measures in the capital to check any destructive activities and maintain law and order during New Year's Eve and the celebration of the New Year.
Security measures will also be beefed up in other parts of the country particularly in the divisional cities and district headquarters.
Around 6,000 law enforcers will be deployed in the city including the diplomatic zone and the posh areas of Gulshan, Banani, Baridhara, Dhanmondi, Uttara and on the Dhaka University Campus.
Of the law enforcers' to be deployed, 2,500 will be from the Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) and the rest police who keep vigil across the city.
Department of Narcotics Control (DNC) has already issued notice to all licensed bars in the capital to close by 5:00pm today.
As the state of emergency is prevailing, law enforcers said they would take action as per the Emergency Power Rules if anyone breaks the rules by unruly activities and drug abuse.
Sources said the authorities concerned are extra cautious this year due to the assassination of former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto.
Rab's dog and bomb squads will be deployed at different vulnerable points. Rab will also set up check posts on different roads of the capital to search vehicles. Rab intelligence teams will also be deployed.
Rab's strike force will be kept on reserve to respond to any untoward incidents.
"Our personnel have already started searching vehicles and people setting up check posts at different places in the city," Rab Legal and Media Wing Director SMAK Azad told The Daily Star last night.
Police officials said around 3,500 policemen will be deployed in the capital on New Year's Eve. Apart from 2,800 uniformed policemen, plainclothes men will also be deployed.
In addition to this, eight platoons of police, each with 111 policemen, and around 200 personnel from the Detective Branch of police will be deployed while its strike force would be kept as reserves.
Meanwhile, Department of Narcotics Control has requested all to refrain from abusing drugs and unruly behaviour on the night of 31st December.
It sought cooperation of all to avert any untoward situation that is usually triggered by unscrupulous and unruly people who sell, buy and abuse dangerous and adulterated drugs. This deteriorates the law and order situation and also poses a threat to people's lives, it said.
RESTRICTIONS
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) authorities made a number of city roads off limits to traffic for 10 hours from 8:00pm on New Year's Eve.
Gulshan, Banani, Baridhara and Dhaka University areas will come under the restrictions.
Motorists have been asked to use Kakoli, Phoenix and Natun Bazar intersections to enter Gulshan, Banani and Baridhara from 8:00pm today to 6:00am on New Year's Day.
The DMP also requested people living near Gulshan Club intersection, Wireless Gate Bridge, Shooting Club Bridge, Gudaraghat Bridge, Jatisangha Bridge and Shahjadpur Bridge and Gulshan Avenue of Gulshan-1 and Gulshan-2 to reach their homes before 8:00pm today.
It said no vehicles will be allowed to enter the Dhaka University campus through Palashi, Bakshibazar, Chankharpul, Nimtoli and Government Employees Hospital, but Shahbagh intersection, Nilkhet and Old High Court entrances would remain open.
The instructions will not be applicable for vehicles of the residents of Dhaka University area and they will be allowed to enter after security checks.
However, exiting the area will have no restrictions.
Fire engines, ambulances and other vehicles of the emergency services will remain out of the purview of the restrictions.
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