Pahela Baishakh: Social media activities to be monitored

Police will strictly monitor Facebook and other social media platforms ahead of Pahela Baishakh, the first day of the Bangla calendar, to avoid any untoward incident.

“Specialised units of police, having capacity to monitor social media, have been instructed to keep an eye,” Inspector General of Police Mohammad Javed Patwary said while presiding over a security meeting regarding Pahela Baishakh at Bangladesh Police Headquarter.

The government instructed to finish all celebrations and programmes at open places by 5:00pm on the day.

"All programmes at open places have been asked to wrap up by 5:00pm while the authorities of Rabindra Sarobar shall end their programmes by 7:00pm,” Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said after the meeting.

He also said several watch towers would be set up with adequate search lights at Ramna Batamul.

Besides, a number of mobile courts would be deployed in Ramna and Dhaka University areas to avoid sabotage activities, he added.

The minister said nobody would be allowed to wear masks during Mangal Shobhajatra which will be cordoned off by police for security reasons.

About ensuring security on Pahela Baishakh, the minister said police were instructed to increase vigilance regarding the activities of banned militant outfits and anarchists. 

Police would also take security measures at bus, launch and railway stations, to ensure safe movement of people. Many plainclothes policemen would also be deployed to ward off criminal elements, he added.

Responding to a query about BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, the minister said the government would take necessary measures on her treatment and follow the recommendations of the medical board.

Dhaka Medical College Hospital sent the BNP chief's health report to the jail authorities yesterday, said Prof Shamsuzzaman, head of the DMCH orthopaedics department and also the chief of the four-member medical board for Khaleda.

The medical board also suggested conducting X-rays on her shoulder, waist and hip-joints along with a blood test. They also prescribed her a few new medicines, he added.