Refrain from anti-social activities on New Year Eve

Manzurul Alam Mukul: The New Year’s Day according to the Gregorian calendar (January 1) is one of the most popular occasions in the world. Many people throughout the world celebrate this festive occasion with loved ones or in large gatherings.

People in most of the parts of world dress colorfully and indulge in fun filled activities such as singing, playing games, dancing, and attending parties. Clubs, movie theatres, resorts, restaurants and amusement parks are filled with people of all ages.

The New Year signifies that the time has arrived to bid farewell to the by-gone year and to welcome the New Year. Traditionally, the New Year used to be celebrated on the first of March every year. However, this date was switched to January 1 as it is considered to have a more religious significance.

On the night of December 31, 1999, some youths harassed Shawan Akhter Badhan and almost stripped her at Mlion Chattar on the premises of Teachers and Students Centre (TSC) where she had gone for millennium celebration along with her three friends who were also assaulted and driven from the scene.

It is unfortunate that every day when we look on media we are to see stories of brutality, death, torture, atrocities, fear, repression, etc. But the incidents are taking place one after another, and those are shaking the whole society and raising various questions.

Crime exists in all societies, but there is a way about crime. But Bangalis have recently taken it to a different degree. Just the world’s uncivilized nations like the Rwanda’s Hutu and Tutsis do such.

The government, law enforcing agencies and concerned authorities are trying to portray the inhuman incidents as scattered or isolated incidents. On the other hand, the country’s eminent and common citizens are deeply concern over the recent spate of inhuman incidents and they do not agree to consider those as isolated incidents. They term those inhuman incidents as a view of degenerate society.

 According to Bangladesh Human Rights Commission, in the seven months from January 1 to 30 July this year, a total of 3063 killings took place. There were 131 rapes and 32 were killed after being raped. A total of 49 were killed for dowry, 295 in domestic violence, 288 in social violence, 195 in political violence, and 373 mysterious deaths. Also, 195 children killed beaten or hacked to death. In the seven months there were 111 extrajudicial killings.

According to Mahila Parishad, in July alone 368 women were victims of oppression. This included 83 rapes, 15 gang rapes, nine murders after rape, 19 attempted rapes and 10 cases of sexual harassment.

It is now a common when we look on media we are to see stories of killing incidents in mass beating. Over the last two months, dozens of people were beaten to death. Questions have been raised over the killing of people in mass beating. Whether they actually were criminals or not. Those deaths didn’t evoke anyone’s sympathy. There were no follow up of those killings even on the second day.

On the night of Shab-e-Barat in 2011, six innocent boys were beaten to death near Aminbazar. There was a flurry of writing for a few days, that’s all. There was no news whether anyone was ultimately punished. No one bothered to inquire about the welfare of the boys’ parents.

Innumerable valuables are stolen every day in Bangladesh. If all thieves were beaten to death, every day hundreds and hundreds would be killed. Robberies take place every day, somewhere or the other.

There must be social protest against crime and wrongdoings. But it is the state that should take legal action against the criminals, try them and duly punish them. This must take place in court, the judges must pass the sentence based on the law, not under pressure from anyone.  A civilized and moral man cannot do the same as an uncivilised barbarian.

As a South Asian country, Bangladesh is no different from its neighbors. Violence against women is amongst the most serious threats and its estimated prevalence rate of violence against women is extremely high. Due to a lack of reliable base-line surveys, the exact number of women affected by violence is unknown, but it is the reality that it is an obstacle to the achievement of equality, development and peace.

Some rowdy people take the various celebrations an opportunity to assault and sexually harass women and girls.


DMP restriction
According to sources, it is a matter of hope that Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has taken additional security measures in the capital to avert any untoward incident during 31st night and New Year celebrations.

Additional police will be deployed in the capital as part of visible security measures ahead of New Year`s Eve. Police will keep vigilance on all the important places of the capital alongside intense intelligence surveillance. Rooftop patrols will also put in place. Besides, plain cloth police will also guard the important points all over the city to avoid any untoward incident marking the thirty-first night, sources said.

Diplomatic enclaves, Dhaka university campus and posh areas of the capital city will be brought under a security blanket with the deployment of a large number of law-enforcers. Bars will be remained closed from 6:00 pm of Thursday. Law-enforcers will also use alcohol detectors as a security tool, according to police sources.

Warning of stern actions against revelers for any misconduct, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has ready asked people to refrain from careless driving and anti-social activities in the name of celebration.
DMP has already imposed a ban on holding any sorts of gatherings in open place on 31st night as a part of the security measures.

“No gathering will be allowed on roads, intersections and flyovers and likewise no programme can be held under the open sky for maintaining law and order and ensuring security," DMP Commissioner said at a press briefing.

The DMP boss has requested the residents of Dhaka University (DU), Gulshan, Banani and Baridhara areas to return their homes before 8.00pm on the 31st night.

He has also urged the non-residents of the areas not to enter the areas while the DU residents have been requested to enter its campus showing their identity cards. The commissioner hoped that all the city dwellers would help police to maintain law and order.

DMP has requested all to refrain from opening fireworks, exploding crackers, reckless driving, misbehavior with others and illegal activities as DMP authorities determined to maintain law and order.

DMP has urged residents of the capital to celebrate the New Year`s Eve at home or with friends and relatives in an affable atmosphere and warned that strict bandobast will be in effect to check cases of drunk driving and other nuisance.


Terror alert for New Year celebrations
Security has been stepped up in major European, American and many Asian countries ahead of New Year celebrations, with officials wary of possible terror plots.

New Year fireworks and festivities have been cancelled in the Belgian capital Brussels because of an alert.

Extra measures will also be in place in cities including Paris, London, Berlin and Moscow.

In Turkey, security services say they have thwarted a major plot to attack celebrations in Ankara.

On Wednesday, Turkish police arrested two suspected IS members over an alleged plot to attack celebrations in Ankara.

Security will also be stepped up in Istanbul, with local media reports saying that some officers will be wearing Father Christmas outfits and other disguises to patrol crowds undetected.

In Paris a New Year fireworks display has been abandoned, but the traditional gathering on the Champs-Elysees will take place amid tight security.

Projections on the Arc de Triomphe will be shorter than normal, four giant screens will be placed at intervals to avoid creating tightly packed crowds and the fireworks display has been cancelled.

The US military has said some IS commanders in Iraq and Syria, who had links to the Paris attacks, are planning further attacks on the West.

Authorities in Moscow will completely close off Red Square, where crowds normally count down to midnight.

In Berlin, backpacks and fireworks will be prohibited and bags searched on the "fan mile" in front of the Brandenburg Gate, which has reportedly been closed off since Christmas.

London`s Metropolitan Police will deploy 3,000 officers in the inner city, including extra armed officers.

More than 100,000 people are expected to watch the Mayor of London`s fireworks show, a ticketed event.

In this circumstance, we should celebrate the New Year`s Eve at home or with friends and relatives in an affable atmosphere.

risingbd/DHAKA/Dec 31, 2015