Tight security, restrictions for Pahela Baishakh

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) today reiterated the restrictions on this year’s Bangla New year celebration that will include curb on outdoor activities after 5:00pm.

Masks and vuvuzelas remain banned for the Pahela Baishakh that will observe a year in passing after sexual harassment of women at Dhaka University campus last year.

DMP Commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia, in a press conference at DMP media centre, strongly said “there will be no scope for chaos” during this year’s festivitiy.

There will be nine watch towers and three control rooms to supervise the overall security at Dhaka University premises. SWAT teams will guard the Mongol Shobhajatra, the traditional colourful procession that is brought out from Faculty of Fine Arts, this year.

“No open air cultural programme will be allowed after 5:00pm,” he reiterated. “Only indoor programmes we will be allowed after 5:00pm”.

A lot of activities have already taken place ahead of this year’s Pahela Baishakh – the most alarming among those being an Islamist group’s Fatwa declaring the event “haram”.

Awami Olama League, known to be an affiliate of the ruling Awami Leauge, declared the “Fatwa” recently and urged the government to ban the “non-Islamist” celebration. In response, Awami League readily disowned the group.

Also, with no credible progress into last year’s sexual harassment on women, a volunteer group has said they will remain vigilant to protect women at Dhaka University this year.

There’s also an on-going propaganda against feasting on Hilsa during Pahela Baishakh because it is the fish’s breeding season now.