Traffic to be regulated on roads adjacent to parade ground

The traffic division of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) says vehicular movements will be regulated on Agargaon, Bijoy Smarani, Ganabhaban, Jahangir Gate and Khamarbari roads from 17 to 26 March for Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's birth centenary and golden jubilee of the Independence celebrations.

National and foreign delegates will arrive in the capital and join the celebrations on the National Parade Ground in Agargaon. Most of the programmes will be held in the afternoon following coronavirus safety measures and social distancing.  

Police officials said there will be zone-wise traffic advisories during the VVIP movements, and their entry and exit to the event ground.       

"We will enforce the traffic diversions as we do on other occasions like Independence Day or Victory Day. But there is no centralised plan," said Abdur Razzak, additional commissioner (Traffic) of the DMP.    

During the celebrations, vehicles with the event stickers will only be allowed on routes adjacent to the parade ground, said Shahed Al Masud, deputy commissioner of Tejgaon Traffic Division.

Wishing anonymity, an assistant commissioner of DMP's Uttara traffic division told The Business Standard that as the foreign guests would arrive on different days, the detour would not affect the regular traffic flow.

Meantime, another assistant commissioner of DMP's Gulshan traffic division echoed his colleague on uninterrupted traffic flow as the ten-day celebrations already have four public holidays – which means less pressure on the roads.      

Wishing anonymity, he said there might be pressure of traffic only on Thursday, and they have a detour plan to tackle the rush.     

Centring the high-profile visits, both Bangladesh Police and DMP have already requested city dwellers not to come out of their houses unless they have an urgency.

Inspector General of Police Benazir Ahmed Tuesday requested the city dwellers to limit their movements unless any necessity during the ten days.  

While addressing a security briefing at Rajarbagh police auditorium, the police chief also requested not to hold rallies and processions from 17 March to 26 March in Dhaka to facilitate the celebrations.

The IGP said the law enforcers will not tolerate any activities which might hamper securities of the foreign dignitaries.  

In a separate media briefing Tuesday, Director General (DG) of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun said they have beefed up security measures centring the celebrations.

The DG RAB said on-site identification and verification systems will be installed at their checkpoints.  

He said the elite force of police continues patrolling both in uniform and plain-clothes.  A central control room at RAB headquarters will monitor and coordinate the arrangements.   

While replying to a query, the DG RAB said there is no security threat. However, the force is ready to deal if any situation emerges.

About the organisations who have been protesting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Dhaka, the director general of RAB said that they hope the organisations would not carry out any programme which might hamper the security of the guests.

Among others, Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapaksa, Nepalese President Bidya Devi Bhandari, Prime Minister of Bhutan Lotay Tshering and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will join the celebrations from Wednesday.