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Pahela Baishakh today

Security blanket in city

Staff Correspondent
The nation today celebrates Pahela Baishakh, the first day of Banglayear 1412, with the audioritics taking the highest security measures to ensure peaceful celebration of the festival.
In the capital, about 7,000 police and Rab (Rapid Action Battalion) men will swing into action at the key celebration spots to avert any untoward incident.
Hie authorities have reinforced die security this year to dispel the public concern that stemmed from the deadly bomb attack on a Chhayanat function at Ramna Batamulin2001.
"We will deploy security personnel diree times the last year's number," Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Mizanur Rahman told The Daily Star yesterday.
Traditionally, the Ramna FROM PAGE 1
Batamul will be the centre of Pahela Baishakh celebrations in the capital and the police will not allow any makeshift stalls or holding fair in the area, he said.
The home ministry, expecting that there would be larger crowds of revellers this year, on Monday ordered to beef up security in all celebration points.
The Rab men will intensify patrol in the entire Ramna, Children's Park, Shilpakala Academy, High Court, Suhrawardi Uddyan, Shahbagh, Dhaka University and Kakrail areas.
Sources said the law-enforcers will be ready with dog squads, explosive detecting units, metal detectors and sophisticated telecommunication system.
Metal detectors would be installed at all entrances to the Ramna Park. Besides, the lawenforcers will install video cameras at different points to take footages of the celebration.
DMP, meanwhile, suggested making certain roads off-limits to vehicles on the day such as the road from Shahbagh to Matsya Bhabanng and from TSC of Dhaka University to Doel Chattar.
The police also advised the revellers not to carry any bag, basket, briefcase, packets or gift boxes duting the celebration. They will set up check posts at different points.
The government has directed the police to arrest liquor traders and take legal action against them. The Department of Narcotics Control has formed five teams to
catch the liquor traders.
Meanwhile, President Iajuddin Ahmed, Prime Minster Khaleda Zia and Leader of the Opposition Sheikh Hasina have issued separate messages on the occasion of Pahela Baishakh and conveyed New Year greetings to the nation. The day is a public holiday.
Different social, political and cultural organisations have chalked elaborate programmes to celebrate the Pahela Baishakh.