The government is planning to keep most of the capital city areas free of beggars and hawkers for the duration of Cricket World Cup matches in Bangladesh.
A home ministry meeting on Tuesday decided to recommend the authorities concerned to free major roads to and from the match venues of beggars and hawkers during the matchers.
The high-powered security committee, led by the home affairs minister, Sahara Khatun, at its fourth meeting also proposed that the government should declare a public holiday only for the Dhaka city on February 17 on the occasion of the opening of the Cricket World Cup scheduled to be held at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.
‘We have decided to propose that the government should declare February 17 a public holiday for the capital city only for a smooth holding of the opening ceremony of the Cricket World Cup,’ Sahara told reporters after the meeting at the secretariat.
She said that the committee had recommended that hawkers and beggars should be evicted from major city roads during the matches of the Cricket World Cup in Dhaka for hassle-free movement of guests and players from home and abroad.
‘We will propose the authorities concerned to take the street beggars to the social welfare ministry’s asylums nearby for the time being,’ the home minister said.
She said that law enforcers were fully prepared to ensure foolproof security during the cricket matches as players, guests and spectators will start coming to Bangladesh on February 6.
Sahara said that all the law enforcement agencies had taken all-out measures to ensure foolproof security, especially at the match venues, hotels and roads in Dhaka and Chittagong between February 6 and March 26.
She said that helicopters would be kept ready for emergencies.
All the forces, including the army, would be deployed to strengthen the security during the matches, according to officials.
The state minister for home, Shamsul Haque, said that managements of all schools and colleges in the capital city would be asked to keep their institutions closed on February 19 and March 19, which fall on Saturday.
Asked whether there was any security threat for the World Cup, the minister said they did not apprehend any threat.
The meeting asked the Dhaka City Corporation and other agencies concerned to complete the ongoing beatification work in the capital soon.
The home secretary, senior officials of the law enforcement agencies and ministries concerned, among others, attended the meeting.
The government in July 2010 formed the security committee, led by Sahara Khatun, for the Cricket World Cup 2011. Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka host the World Cup.
