People ushered in the year 2012 as the clock struck 12 midnight past Saturday amid jubilation.
Security was heightened to fend off any untoward incidents on the New Year’s Eve. The police early today said that there had been no untoward incidents in the capital.
Hundreds of people, especially the young, started thronging the campus of the
University of Dhaka, clubs and posh hotels and restaurants in the evening to bid farewell to 2011 and ring in the new year, witnesses said.
The people who gathered in Dhaka University rang in the year 2012 singing, dancing, performing fire breathing, holding display of fireworks, beating trumpets and counting down to the midnight.
They greeted each other, handed in flowers, cards and other gifts to friends on the occasion.
Posh hotels and clubs hosted parties on the New Year’s Eve featuring dance, fashion shows and concerns, among other programmes.
The president, Zillur Rahman, the prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, and the leader of the opposition in the parliament, Khaleda Zia, issued messages greeting the countrymen and expatriate Bangladeshis on this occasion.
The state-owned news agency Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha said that the president, in a message, wished the people peace, progress and happiness.
The prime minister in her message said that the year 2011 would remain as memorable in national life.
The beginning of the war crimes trial was a remarkable achievement of the year, Hasina said, adding that the there been progress in the cases for the killing of four national-level leaders and the August 21 grenade attack.
Khaleda, also the chairperson of Bangladesh National Party, in her message, wished the people continued happiness, peace and prosperity.
Eight mobile courts were deployed along with a large number of law enforcers in the capital to keep law and order.
The city police imposed restrictions on carrying and using any explosive substances, especially firecrackers, reckless driving, loud honking, any activities hampering religious sentiments, and using loud speakers, the officials said.
Special measures were taken in view of the New Year’s celebrations in Dhaka University, the police said.
The police imposed restrictions on the university area and no outsiders were let in, the campus sources said.
Security measures were put in place for posh areas of the capital, including the diplomatic zones at Gulshan, Banani and Uttara. The lawmen set up checkpoints in strategic points in the capital.
A large number of the city dwellers, meanwhile, left Dhaka for different tourist spots as the 31 night fell on the weekend.
Hundreds of people poured in on Cox’s Bazar sea beach.
Courtesy of New Age
