DU stiffens Pahela Baishakh security

Dhaka University has taken a host of security measures to celebrate the Bangla New Year with traditional festivities tomorrow.

Law enforcers and volunteers will fan across the campus, while 190 watch towers will be set up and the whole area will be under CCTV cameras, said Pro-Vice Chancellor (administration) Shahid Akter Hossain, also convener of the Pahela Baishakh celebrations committee, addressing a press conference at DU. Last year an organised sex assault on women during the celebrations created a huge uproar and resentment.

The pro-VC said, "Besides personnel of different law enforcement agencies, 400 Bangladesh National Cadet Corps (BNCC) and Rover Scout members will be deployed at different points in Dhaka University area to avert any untoward incident."

The DU authorities banned open concerts, use of loudspeakers and band music on the campus after 5:00pm on the day. Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Asaduzzaman Miah said the steps were not aimed at regulating the celebration, but rather facilitating it. Both DMP and DU authorities banned use of high-sounding "vuvuzela".

All entrances to Suhrawardy Udyan will be closed at 5:00pm, he said, adding that wearing masks during Mangal Shobhajatra (procession) and donning T-shirts  with advertisements of different companies and their products were  also prohibited. Vice Chancellor AAMS Arefin Siddique will lead the procession.  Meanwhile, the students of the fine arts faculty were passing busy time, preparing for the traditional march. Tuhin, a ceramics student of the faculty, said, "We have been working for the last two weeks and have almost completed our preparations."