Dhaka, Jan 1, – The people of Bangladesh welcome New Year 2018 with jubilant celebrations and exchange of wishes for family, friends.Like countries across the world, the celebration in Bangladesh began Sundaynid night. The capital city Dhaka started buzzing with cracking sounds of fireworks few minutes before midnight that continued for more than an hour with random intervals. As soon as the clock struck zero hour fireworks lighted up in the sky of Dhaka city despite a ban on open-air programs and parties, and fireworks.
With the tight security Students of Dhaka University celebrated the New Year on the campus. The five-star hotels also organized programs to celebrate Happy New Year.
On the occasion of the New Year, many of the buildings are decorated with lights of various colours and Illumination since the evening. People expressed their happiness as well as pyrotechnics in the city. However, the incentive of youth was seen in the TSC area of the university. Thousands of air balloons flew in the sky of Dhaka. The presence of fireworks was noticeable.
The Dhaka Metropolitan Police had earlier declared terms of the security for celebrating thirty-first nights. Open year programs including the roof of the house and party were banned.
The law enforcing agencies was surrounded by tight security forces in the entire capital on Sunday night. Gulshan, Banani, Baridhara and Dhaka University area were tight-lipped.
From 8 pm onwards, the Hatirjheel area was forbidden for ordinary people. Besides, the Dhaka University, Gulshan-Banani and Baridhara areas were also restricted for entry.
People of all ages in different cities including Chittagong, Rajshahi, Khulna, Sylhet, Barisal and Rangpur welcomed the New Year with jubilant celebrations.
On this special occasion, people conveyed their best wishes to their friends and beloved ones through greeting cards and using different social media platforms.
Corporate and government officials and various organisations also did the same thing as they do every year to greet their nearest ones.
The day was also a moment of looking back to the outgoing year for reviewing the successes and failures and planning strategies to reach new goals for the New Year, with accomplishing the unfinished tasks those need to be done in the coming days.
In separate messages, President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and opposition leader Khaleda Zia greeted the people on the occasion of New Year 2018.
In both global and Bangladesh perspectives, Rohingya issue drew international attention as security forces of Myanmar launched crackdown against the Rohingya people, who were eventually forced to cross the border into Bangladesh.
For ensuring security during New Year Celebration, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) enforced multi-tiered security measures, including banning holding of programmes at open spaces.
Police personnel in uniform or plainclothes were deployed and members of Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime Unit, SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) and bomb disposal team discharged duties at different city points to ensure safety.
Newspapers published special supplements on New Year and radio stations and television channels broadcasted special porgramme. – News Desk
