Hijbut Tahrir warns against excess over Pahela Baishakh

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Militants of the banned Islamist outfit Hijbut Tahrir has threatened to blow up "Pahela Baishakh" functions if there are excesses over the celebrations, intelligence agencies said, reports UNB.
"Don't do excesses over the celebrations. We'll blow up," the threat came through leaflets distributed in a school at Uttara in the city on Monday.
The intelligence agents collected one such leaflet issued in the name of Hijbut Tahrir.
"There is nothing to worry… We've full preparations to face any situation," a senior intelligence officer told UNB Tuesday evening.
State Minister for Home Affairs Shamsul Huq Tuku said it was the responsibility of the government to ensure security to life and property and "we're working on it."
He said people of all walks of life would welcome the Bangla New Year with enthusiasm and spirit of Bangali nationalism.
"The law enforcers have already been instructed to make sure about the peaceful celebrations," Tuku told reporters in the afternoon while inspecting the security arrangements at Ramna Batamul, the main venue of Pahela Baishakh celebrations.
He said high security arrangements, both visible and invisible, were in place centring the observation of the Pahela Baishakh.
Home Secretary Abdus Sobhan Sikdar, IGP Nur Mohammad, DG RAB Hasan Mahmud Khandaker and senior police and intelligence officials were present.
Commenting on the Hijbut Tahrir's threat, RAB Director (Intelligence Wing) Lt Col Ziaul Ahsan told UNB, "We've adequate preparations and there is nothing to be scared of."
About the Hijbut Tahrir's leaflet, he said: "We're taking it seriously and we've massive preparations."
Some 12,500 police and RAB personnel will be guarding 117 celebration venues in the capital including the Ramna Batamul, TSC in Dhaka University and "Rabindra Sarobor" at Dhanmondi Lake.