No DJ, no alcohol on New Year’s Eve

No DJ parties will be allowed on New Year's Eve to usher in 2021, and all bars must be shut down in the capital before the evening on the day.

DMP commissioner Shafiqul Islam imposed the restriction yesterday.

Addressing a coordination meeting at the DMP headquarters on law and order and traffic management for Christmas and thirty-first night, the DMP chief said there would be maximum security in churches for Christmas day.

In addition, additional surveillance and security arrangements will be made in Christian-majority areas and institutions, he said.

Shafiqul suggested that it would be good for churches to organise multiple prayers in different times, for area-based residences.

On the occasion of thirty-first night, the DMP boss said people would not be allowed to gather in open spaces and organise any party.

"No space or room can be rented in the name of DJ party in hotels," he said.

However, hotels will be able to arrange programmes by their own in a limited scale maintaining social distancing, said the DMP commissioner.

No celebrations of New Year's Eve can take place at Dhaka University (DU) or any other educational institution, he said, adding bars will be closed from the evening on the day.

"Shops can be kept open in accordance with social distancing and proper hygiene rules. However, as usual, all fast food shops and markets will be closed after 8pm," said the DMP chief.

At the meeting, DMP high officials also said they have taken some security measures, like deployment of sufficient number of uniformed police personnel in each church. Visitors will be allowed to enter each church only through metal detector archways, and will also go through searches.

The venues will be checked with dog squad, and there will be firefighting and ambulance on standby, according to officials.

There will be uninterrupted power supply in church areas, and no floating shops or hawkers will be allowed to sit in the areas.

No one will be allowed to enter church with any kind of bag, box or carton.

There will also be hand-washing and sanitising facilities, temperature checks with thermal scanners, and disinfectant spray machines or tunnels at each venue, according to a statement issued by DMP. Masks are compulsory for all visitors, organisers and staff.

The meeting was attended by senior officials of the DMP, representatives of the Christian community, officials of various government intelligence agencies and representatives of various service providers, the DMP statement added.