The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

City-dwellers celebrated the 31st night and welcomed the New Year 2008 amid strict police and RAB vigilance on Monday night.

RAB members, equipped with sophisticated arms and weapons, carried out extensive searches stopping taxicabs and CNG autorickshaws at different points in the capital. However, the law enforcers refrained from checking or searching private cars in the posh areas.

Witnesses said youngsters started cheering in different parts of the city, including TSC on Dhaka University campus, just after the zero hour. Coming out of different residential halls, students burst into cheers on the streets of the DU campus. No outsider was allowed to enter the DU campus for security reasons.

However, many did not get out of their houses fearing searching and undesirable harassment by law enforces.

There was no street boozing this time around. Streets in the diplomatic enclave of Gulshan, Banani and Baridhara were almost desolate by 10:00pm.

Only on-duty police and journalists were seen in the area. Many were seen came out of their residences with families and children.

Senior police officers visited the areas. No untoward incident was reported in the city.

Over 100 police check-posts were put up in the capital from 8:00 pm to stop maddening celebration of the New Year by drinking alcohol, honking cars or playing high-beat music.

Sources said more than 2,000 policemen were deployed at different strategic points of the capital to avert any untoward incident on the 31st night.

There were celebrations in five-star hotels and clubs as usual to say adieu to 2007 and welcome the New Year. The 31st night was celebrated at these hotels and clubs under special permission. Musical and dance programmes were organised through popular artistes and singers.

A large number of artistes and singers assembled at Hotel Regency at Nikunja area on 31st night. They included singers Samina Chowdhury, Alam Ara Minu, artiste Sweety, Lux beauty Badhon, models Faisal, Nirob, Rabi and Raha. Many got involved in drinking and dancing throughout the night.

Meanwhile, a case was filed against a woman after 2:00am on Monday with the city's Tejgaon Police Station for carrying illegal liquor.

The case was filed by Nazrul Islam, an official of the Department of Narcotics Control, against Nazma Khatun while she was allegedly carrying on 17 cans of beer after 1:00am at Rajarnagh area. Nazma is now under the custody of DNC.

However, no case was filed with other police stations of the city or no one in Shahbagh, Ramna, Dhanmondi, Uttara and Gulshan areas was arrested.