বিধিনিষেধ ছিল। ছিল কড়া নিরাপত্তা। তার মধ্যেও থেমে ছিল না উদযাপন।
গতকাল বৃহস্পতিবার দিবাগত রাতে নানা আয়োজনের মধ্য দিয়ে খ্রিষ্টীয় বছরের শেষ দিনটিকে বিদায় জানিয়েছে মানুষ। একই সঙ্গে তারা নতুন বছরকে বরণ করেছে। বিপুল প্রত্যাশা আর সম্ভাবনার স্বপ্ন নিয়ে নতুন দিনের আলো ফুটেছে।
বিশ্বের অন্যান্য দেশের মতো বাংলাদেশেও এবার বর্ষবরণ নিয়ে উদ্বেগ-উৎকণ্ঠা একটু বেশিই ছিল। সে কারণে নিরাপত্তায় ছিল বাড়তি কড়াকড়ি।
নিরাপত্তার প্রশ্নে কোনো ছাড় না দেওয়ার কথা আগেভাগেই জানিয়ে দেয় পুলিশ। নিরাপত্তার বিষয়ে কঠোর হতে সরকারের উচ্চপর্যায় থেকেও আসে নির্দেশ।
সন্ধ্যার পর প্রকাশ্যে বর্ষবরণের সব রকমের অনুষ্ঠান বন্ধ করে দেওয়া হয়। তারকা হোটেল বা ক্লাবের অনুষ্ঠানে নিজস্ব নিরাপত্তা নিশ্চিত করে কর্তৃপক্ষ। আইনশৃঙ্খলা রক্ষাকারী বাহিনীর হাজারো সদস্য ঢাকায় দায়িত্ব পালন করেন। নিরাপত্তার খাতিরে চলে বাড়তি তল্লাশি।
বিধিনিষেধ আর কড়াকড়ির মধ্যেও থেমে থাকেনি উৎসব। সীমিত পরিসরে, নিজ নিজ এলাকায়, ভবনের ছাদে বা ঘরোয়া পরিবেশে ২০১৫ সালকে বিদায় জানিয়েছে নগরবাসী। পুরোনো ক্ষত ভুলে গিয়ে নতুন আশায় বুক বেঁধে ২০১৬ সালকে তারা স্বাগত জানিয়েছে।
রাজধানীর কোনো কোনো এলাকায় থেমে থেমে পটকা ফাটানো হয়েছে। পোড়ানো হয়েছে আতশবাজি। কেউ উড়িয়েছে ফানুস। বন্ধুরা, স্বজনেরা জড়ো হয়ে হইচই করেছে। কেক কেটেছে। জমজমাট বারবিকিউ পার্টি করেছে। প্রাণ খুলে গান ধরে আড্ডা মাত করেছে কেউ কেউ।
সন্ধ্যার পর ফেসবুক সরগরম হয়ে ওঠে। সেখানে রাতভর চলে আনাগোনা। স্ট্যাটাস, সেলফি, দেয়ালচিত্রে চলে বর্ষবরণ।
উদযাপন ও আয়োজন যেমনই হোক না কেন, সবারই চাওয়া—নতুন বছর ভালো কাটুক, সম্পর্ক দৃঢ় হোক, বিধিনিষেধ ছিল। ছিল কড়া নিরাপত্তা। তার মধ্যেও থেমে ছিল না উদযাপন।
গতকাল বৃহস্পতিবার দিবাগত রাতে নানা আয়োজনের মধ্য দিয়ে খ্রিষ্টীয় বছরের শেষ দিনটিকে বিদায় জানিয়েছে মানুষ। একই সঙ্গে তারা নতুন বছরকে বরণ করেছে। বিপুল প্রত্যাশা আর সম্ভাবনার স্বপ্ন নিয়ে নতুন দিনের আলো ফুটেছে।
বিশ্বের অন্যান্য দেশের মতো বাংলাদেশেও এবার বর্ষবরণ নিয়ে উদ্বেগ-উৎকণ্ঠা একটু বেশিই ছিল। সে কারণে নিরাপত্তায় ছিল বাড়তি কড়াকড়ি।
নিরাপত্তার প্রশ্নে কোনো ছাড় না দেওয়ার কথা আগেভাগেই জানিয়ে দেয় পুলিশ। নিরাপত্তার বিষয়ে কঠোর হতে সরকারের উচ্চপর্যায় থেকেও আসে নির্দেশ।
সন্ধ্যার পর প্রকাশ্যে বর্ষবরণের সব রকমের অনুষ্ঠান বন্ধ করে দেওয়া হয়। তারকা হোটেল বা ক্লাবের অনুষ্ঠানে নিজস্ব নিরাপত্তা নিশ্চিত করে কর্তৃপক্ষ। আইনশৃঙ্খলা রক্ষাকারী বাহিনীর হাজারো সদস্য ঢাকায় দায়িত্ব পালন করেন। নিরাপত্তার খাতিরে চলে বাড়তি তল্লাশি।
বিধিনিষেধ আর কড়াকড়ির মধ্যেও থেমে থাকেনি উৎসব। সীমিত পরিসরে, নিজ নিজ এলাকায়, ভবনের ছাদে বা ঘরোয়া পরিবেশে ২০১৫ সালকে বিদায় জানিয়েছে নগরবাসী। পুরোনো ক্ষত ভুলে গিয়ে নতুন আশায় বুক বেঁধে ২০১৬ সালকে তারা স্বাগত জানিয়েছে।
রাজধানীর কোনো কোনো এলাকায় থেমে থেমে পটকা ফাটানো হয়েছে। পোড়ানো হয়েছে আতশবাজি। কেউ উড়িয়েছে ফানুস। বন্ধুরা, স্বজনেরা জড়ো হয়ে হইচই করেছে। কেক কেটেছে। জমজমাট বারবিকিউ পার্টি করেছে। প্রাণ খুলে গান ধরে আড্ডা মাত করেছে কেউ কেউ।
সন্ধ্যার পর ফেসবুক সরগরম হয়ে ওঠে। সেখানে রাতভর চলে আনাগোনা। স্ট্যাটাস, সেলফি, দেয়ালচিত্রে চলে বর্ষবরণ।
উদযাপন ও আয়োজন যেমনই হোক না কেন, সবারই চাওয়া—নতুন বছর ভালো কাটুক, সম্পর্ক দৃঢ় হোক, পৃথিবীতে শান্তি নেমে আসুক।
A throng of 1 million revelers in Times Square rang in the New Year with raucous cheers and a blizzard of confetti, striking an optimistic, even defiant, tone amid jitters over extremist attacks and heavy security that included 6,000 police officers.
"You haven't lived until you've experienced Times Square on New Year's," said Eric Robertson, 25, of Philadelphia, who kissed his girlfriend as the crowd counted down the seconds to the New Year and the ball dropped at the stroke of midnight.
Partygoers from around the world had waited hours at the famed Manhattan crossroads — some since before dawn — for the countdown. Mayor Bill de Blasio pushed the button to send a 11,875-pound Waterford crystal ball into its minute-long decent.
New Year's Eve fireworks display on the Delaware River with Camden NJ as the backdrop viewed from Penn's Landing on December 31, 2015 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
New York's Times Square glows during New Year's Eve celebrations seen from a New York Police helicopter patrolling the city, Thursday, Dec. 31, 2015, in New York.
Revelers celebrate as confetti flies over New York's Times Square after the clock strikes midnight during the New Year's Eve celebration as seen from the Marriott Marquis hotel, Jan. 1, 2016.
Confetti falls from the ceiling at the stroke of midnight during the NHL New Year's Eve BASH at the House of Blues as part of the 2016 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic, December 31, 2015 in Boston, Massachusetts.
A police officer, right, walks past revelers playing with confetti in New York's Times Square after the New Year's Eve celebration, as seen from the Marriott Marquis hotel, Friday, Jan. 1, 2016.
A worker cleans up confetti and garbage after New Year celebrations in Times Square, New York, January 1, 2016.
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As the clock struck 12 o'clock, cheers erupted as fireworks shot into the sky and people shared hugs and their first kisses of the year.
The revelers were protected by an unprecedented number of police officers — some in civilian clothes, many heavily armed — as well as rigid security screenings.
"This is the iconic New Year's celebration for the world," New York Police Department Commissioner William Bratton said. "We have no threats we're aware of directed against this event tonight but nevertheless we still plan for the worst and then expect the best."
Officers from the NYPD's elite emergency services unit surveyed the scene from Times Square rooftops, peering below through binoculars and scopes as snipers stood beside them. Heavily armed officers carrying tactical rifles stood on nearly every corner for blocks as police helicopters buzzed overhead after checking in on other parts of the city, including the World Trade Center and Statue of Liberty.
Some in the crowd admitted to being nervous to gather in such a famous location in the weeks after the Paris and San Bernardino attacks. Just hours earlier Thursday, an ex-con was charged in upstate New York with planning to carry out a New Year's Eve attack at a bar to prove he was worthy of joining the Islamic State terror group. That case prompted the city to cancel its New Year's Eve fireworks celebration.
Ashley Watters, 18, a freshman at Temple University hailing from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, called the threat of terrorism "the elephant in the room."
"I talked to my dad before I left and said 'I love you and hopefully ISIS doesn't come,'" said Watters. "My dad said, 'Keep your eyes out.' He feels the same way, you can't live in fear. I'm not going to miss out on an opportunity."
Others were heartened by the massive security presence for the party to send off 2015 that featured musical acts by Carrie Underwood, Nick Jonas and Demi Lovato and temperatures that, to the relief of the bundled-up spectators, stayed well above freezing.
"I actually believe this is the safest place in the world," said Eku Kabba, 27, who has made the trip from Gaithersburg, Maryland to Times Square for the last five years.
"It could happen anywhere, but you can't start the world panicking," he said as a recording of the James Brown song "Living in America" blared from the stage. "Look around; there are men in uniform everywhere."
People take part in celebrations at Times Square on January 1, 2016 in New York City. At least 6,000 police officers were deployed, including rooftop snipers, canine units and air and water patrols, in and around Times Square in Manhattan. Mayor Bill de Blasio declared New York to be "the best prepared city to prevent terrorism and to deal with any event that could occur."
Takanobu Nobori (L) and Shoko Toyama kiss to celebrate ringing in the new year in Times Square on January 1, 2016 in New York City. The New York City Police Department deployed more than 6,000 officers in the Times Square area, including more than 1,100 officers who graduated from the police academy on Tuesday.
Women take a selfie to celebrate ringing in the new year in Times Square on January 1, 2016 in New York City. The New York City Police Department deployed more than 6,000 officers in the Times Square area, including more than 1,100 officers who graduated from the police academy on Tuesday.
Fireworks go off as the new year is rung in in Times Square on January 1, 2016 in New York City. The New York City Police Department deployed more than 6,000 officers in the Times Square area, including more than 1,100 officers who graduated from the police academy on Tuesday.
Fireworks go off as the new year is rung in in Times Square on January 1, 2016 in New York City. The New York City Police Department deployed more than 6,000 officers in the Times Square area, including more than 1,100 officers who graduated from the police academy on Tuesday.
Cynthia Falu, from Dover, Del., celebrates New Year's Eve at noon with her children in Times Square in New York, Thursday, Dec. 31, 2015. Around 1 million people are expected to converge on Times Square for the annual New Year's Eve celebration. This year's festivities will also be attended by nearly 6,000 New York City police officers, including members of a specialized counterterrorism unit.
Police officers gather at the southern end of Times Square to receive their assignments for New Year's Eve in New York, Thursday, Dec. 31, 2015. Around 1 million people are expected to converge on Times Square for the annual New Year's Eve celebration. This year's festivities will also be attended by nearly 6,000 New York City police officers, including members of a specialized counterterrorism unit.
Police officers walk through the gathering crowds at Times Square in New York, Thursday, Dec. 31, 2015. Around 1 million people are expected to converge on Times Square for the annual New Year's Eve celebration. This year's festivities will also be attended by nearly 6,000 New York City police officers, including members of a specialized counterterrorism unit.
Police officers walk through the gathering crowds at Times Square in New York, Thursday, Dec. 31, 2015. Around 1 million people are expected to converge on Times Square for the annual New Year's Eve celebration. This year's festivities will also be attended by nearly 6,000 New York City police officers, including members of a specialized counterterrorism unit.
Police officers gather at the southern end of Times Square to receive their assignments for New Year's Eve in New York, Thursday, Dec. 31, 2015. Around 1 million people are expected to converge on Times Square for the annual New Year's Eve celebration. This year's festivities will also be attended by nearly 6,000 New York City police officers, including members of a specialized counterterrorism unit.
Pedestrians submit to a search as they enter Times Square in New York, Thursday, Dec. 31, 2015. Around 1 million people are expected to converge on Times Square for the annual New Year's Eve celebration. This year's festivities will also be attended by nearly 6,000 New York City police officers, including members of a specialized counterterrorism unit.
A long line of pedestrians wait to be searched as they enter Times Square in New York, Thursday, Dec. 31, 2015. Around 1 million people are expected to converge on Times Square for the annual New Year's Eve celebration. This year's festivities will also be attended by nearly 6,000 New York City police officers, including members of a specialized counterterrorism unit.
Pedestrians submit to a search as they enter Times Square in New York, Thursday, Dec. 31, 2015. Around 1 million people are expected to converge on Times Square for the annual New Year's Eve celebration. This year's festivities will also be attended by nearly 6,000 New York City police officers, including members of a specialized counterterrorism unit.
Police officers look over a crowd waiting for midnight in Times Square in New York, Thursday, Dec. 31, 2015. Around 1 million people are expected to converge on Times Square for the annual New Year's Eve celebration. This year's festivities will also be attended by nearly 6,000 New York City police officers, including members of a specialized counterterrorism unit.
Kaleo Woods is packed into a pen with other revelers while waiting for midnight in Times Square in New York, Thursday, Dec. 31, 2015. Around 1 million people are expected to converge on Times Square for the annual New Year's Eve celebration. This year's festivities will also be attended by nearly 6,000 New York City police officers, including members of a specialized counterterrorism unit.
Pedestrians submit to a search as they enter Times Square in New York, Thursday, Dec. 31, 2015. Around 1 million people are expected to converge on Times Square for the annual New Year's Eve celebration. This year's festivities will also be attended by nearly 6,000 New York City police officers, including members of a specialized counterterrorism unit.
18/18 SLIDES
A child is lifted above the crowd during New Year celebrations in Times Square in the Manhattan borough of New York December 31, 2015. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly
18/18 SLIDES
Associated Press writer William Mathis, photographer Julio Cortez and radio correspondent Julie Walker contributed to this report
Officials say firefighters have managed to bring the majority of the fire under control, according to the BBC.
There are 16 reports of injuries: 14 minor, one moderate and one case of a heart attack due to overcrowding and smoke.
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A massive fire broke out in the high-rise Address Hotel in downtown Dubai near where many had gathered for the city's New Year's Eve fireworks display Thursday evening, prompting a mass evacuation .
Video of the fire shows a trail of fire on the side of the hotel, creeping close to the top.
In a statement, the United Arab Emirates government said that as many as four crews of firefighters are at the scene to contain the blaze, reported CNN. The blaze is believed to have started on the 20th floor but has yet to make its way to the interior of the building, it added.
Despite it not making its way inside the building, the fire has already caused extensive damage to the outer frame, causing debris from the building to rain down below. An official said the building was evacuated and no one was injured on the inside, but it's not clear if the same can be said for those who were outside when the fire began, according to CNBC.
News crews were able to catch up with onlookers who described the moment the flames began to erupt.
"All of a sudden we saw this huge black plume of black smoke coming between the Khalifa Tower and the hotel," tourist Michelle Duque told the BBC. "The flames burst out really big and before we knew it the whole of the Address Hotel was covered in orange flames."
"The problem is millions of people inside the Burj Khalifa [a nearby building] cannot move anywhere because we [are] kind of waiting for the fireworks display," another tourist said.
It's not clear what started the fire, but the fire did come a little before Dubai's New Year's Eve celebration at a time when other countries have made it a priority to enhance security amid fears that terrorists could be plotting attacks against revellers. Some countries have reported catching militants planning such attacks, while at least one has cancelled its New Year's Eve celebration altogether.
Another possibility is that one of the fireworks misfired and hit the side of the building, and nothing has been ruled out.
Once extinguished, New Year's Eve celebrations will continue as usual, government officials said.
Bangladesh cricketer Shahadat Hossain and his wife have been charged in court for torturing their underage house help.
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Police have submitted the chargesheet, which accuses the couple of physical torture, to the Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.
The chargesheet will be presented before the court on Jan 12, the day fixed for the hearing of the case, Court police’s Sub Inspector Jahangir Hossain told bdnews24.com.
1 hour ago The Rapid Action Battalion launched the raid on an abandoned house at
Gazipur. DHAKA (AFP) - Two suspected followers of a banned Bangladeshi militant
outfit were killed Monday in an explosion outside the capital Dhaka as security
forces raided a third extremist hideout in four days. The Rapid Action Battalion
launched the raid on an abandoned house at Gazipur, 40 kilometres (25 miles)
north of Dhaka, just after midnight, said a spokesman for the elite police unit.
Suspected members of Jamayetul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) hurled bombs towards
the raiding party before an explosion in the building. Two bodies were later
recovered. "We opened fire at them after a law enforcer was injured as the JMB
militants hurled an IED (improvised explosive device) at our officers when we
surrounded the house," said RAB spokesman Major Rumman Mahmud. "After we shot
several rounds of bullets we heard an explosion inside the den. Later we found
two bodies lying on the floor," he told AFP. Unexploded IEDs, grenades, a
pistol, bullets and JMB propaganda leaflets were found at the premises. It was
the third raid on a suspected militant hideout in four days as security forces
intensify a hunt for extremists following a series of deadly attacks on
foreigners as well as an attack at a mosque at a naval base. The raid came hours
after three alleged JMB militants were arrested in the port city of Chittagong.
Police found a modern assault rifle, a huge cache of bullets, bombmaking
equipment and army uniforms during the operation. "The worst part of our concern
is they have local military fatigues, which makes it harder for the police to
monitor their movement," Chittagong Metropolitan Police Commissioner Abdul Jalil
Mandal told AFP. Last Thursday police raided a multi-storey building in Dhaka s
Mirpur suburb and arrested seven suspected JMB men after a 15-hour operation.
Police said they recovered hand grenades and suicide bombers vests. The
high-profile raids and arrests have raised fears Islamist militants have
regrouped a decade after they carried out a series of bombings. The nationwide
blasts coincided with the launch of a campaign to introduce Sharia law in the
Muslim-majority but officially secular nation. In recent months a string of
attacks and murders of foreigners, secular bloggers, publishers, Sufi leaders,
Shias and Ahmadi Muslims were claimed by the Islamic State group. The government
has denied that IS has a presence in Bangladesh while police blame homegrown
militant group JMB for the recent violence.
DHAKA (AFP) - Two suspected followers of a banned Bangladeshi
militant outfit were killed Monday in an explosion outside the capital Dhaka as
security forces raided a third extremist hideout in four days. The Rapid Action
Battalion launched the raid on an abandoned house at Gazipur, 40 kilometres (25
miles) north of Dhaka, just after midnight, said a spokesman for the elite
police unit. Suspected members of Jamayetul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) hurled
bombs towards the raiding party before an explosion in the building. Two bodies
were later recovered. "We opened fire at them after a law enforcer was injured
as the JMB militants hurled an IED (improvised explosive device) at our officers
when we surrounded the house," said RAB spokesman Major Rumman Mahmud. "After we
shot several rounds of bullets we heard an explosion inside the den. Later we
found two bodies lying on the floor," he told AFP. Unexploded IEDs, grenades, a
pistol, bullets and JMB propaganda leaflets were found at the premises. It was
the third raid on a suspected militant hideout in four days as security forces
intensify a hunt for extremists following a series of deadly attacks on
foreigners as well as an attack at a mosque at a naval base. The raid came hours
after three alleged JMB militants were arrested in the port city of Chittagong.
Police found a modern assault rifle, a huge cache of bullets, bombmaking
equipment and army uniforms during the operation. "The worst part of our concern
is they have local military fatigues, which makes it harder for the police to
monitor their movement," Chittagong Metropolitan Police Commissioner Abdul Jalil
Mandal told AFP. Last Thursday police raided a multi-storey building in Dhaka s
Mirpur suburb and arrested seven suspected JMB men after a 15-hour operation.
Police said they recovered hand grenades and suicide bombers vests. The
high-profile raids and arrests have raised fears Islamist militants have
regrouped a decade after they carried out a series of bombings. The nationwide
blasts coincided with the launch of a campaign to introduce Sharia law in the
Muslim-majority but officially secular nation. In recent months a string of
attacks and murders of foreigners, secular bloggers, publishers, Sufi leaders,
Shias and Ahmadi Muslims were claimed by the Islamic State group. The government
has denied that IS has a presence in Bangladesh while police blame homegrown
militant group JMB for the recent violence.
এই মাসে চালু হচ্ছে খুলনা-কলকাতা সরাসরি বাস সার্ভিস।
ঢাকা-কলকাতা এবং ঢাকা-আগরতলার পর এটি হবে দুইদেশের মধ্যে তৃতীয় সরাসরি বাস সার্ভিস। সার্কভুক্ত দেশসমূহের মধ্যে সমঝোতা স্মারকের অংশ হিসেবে বাংলাদেশ-ভুটান-ইন্ডিয়া-নেপাল মোটর ভেহিকেলস্ এগ্রিমেন্ট (বিবিআইএন-এমভিএ) এর আওতায় এই বাস সার্ভিস চালুর উদ্যোগ নেয়া হয়েছে। সবকিছু ঠিকঠাক থাকলে আগামী ২৩ ডিসেম্বর সরাসরি এই বাস সার্ভিস চালু হবে। এই বাস সার্ভিসকে দীর্ঘস্থায়ী করতে ইতিমধ্যে এডিবির টাকায় কলকাতা- পেট্রাপোল জাতীয় সড়ক চার লেনে উন্নীত করা হবে বলে জানা যায়। এদিকে বিবিআইএনএমভিএ অনুসারে ভারত-বাংলাদেশের মধ্যে আরো একটি নতুন বাস রুট চালু হচ্ছে। ভারতের পরিবহন দফতরের কর্তারা জানান, আগামী ২৩ ডিসেম্বর কলকাতা-খুলনা ভায়া যশোর রুটের বাস সার্ভিসের শুভ সূচনা হবে কলকাতা থেকে। পশ্চিম বাংলার মুখ্যমন্ত্রী মমতা বন্দোপাধ্যায় এই বাস যাত্রার আনুষ্ঠানিক শুভ উদ্বোধন করবেন। এই রুটে ভারতীয় বাস চালাবে ভূতল পরিবহন নিগম।
অবশেষে নিজের জন্য ইরানি বেগম ঠিক করলেন বলিউডের লাভার বয় সালমান খান। জানা গেছে ইরানী বংশোদ্ভুত সেই বেগমের নাম মানদানা করিমি। সালমান খানের “সুলতান” ছবিতে দেখা যাবে তাকে। বহুদিন ধরেই জল্পনা কল্পনা চলছে সালমান খানের ‘সুলতান’-এর বেগম কে হচ্ছেন। এমন জল্পনার মধ্যেই নিজের নায়িকা আবিষ্কার করলেন সাল্লু। মালদানা বিগ বস-এর নবম সিজনের প্রতিয়োগী। এই শো-এর সৌজন্যে মানদানা এখন ভারতীয় দর্শকের ড্রইংরুমের নতুন অতিথি। রিয়েলিটি শো-এর আগে অবশ্য চলতি বছরের সেপ্টেম্বরেই মানদানাকে দেখা গিয়েছে ‘ভাগ জনি’তে। কুণাল খেমুর বিপরীতে ইরানীয় সুন্দরী নজর কাড়লেও সে ছবি কিন্তু বক্স অফিসে ডুবেছে। তবে মডেলিং দিয়ে নাম কুড়ালেও মানদানা আপাতত ফিল্মেই মন দিতে চান। ‘বিগ বসে’র সেটে সালমান যে তার প্রতি একটু বেশিই আগ্রহী তা চোখ এড়াতে পারেনি কারোরই। আদিত্য চোপড়া প্রযোজিত ‘সুলতান’ ছবির পর্দায় দেখা যেতে পারে আগামী বছর ইদে। ‘মেরে ব্রাদার কি দুলহান’ বা ‘গুন্ডে’-র পর এটাই পরিচালক আলি আব্বাস জাফরির বড় প্রজেক্ট। এ ছবিতে সালমানের বিপরীতে অনেক নায়িকার প্রস্তাব এলেও কার্যত কাউকে চূড়ান্ত করা হয়নি। কিন্তু, এখন শোনা যাচ্ছে ৪৯ বয়সী এ নায়কের বেগমের রোল পেতে পারেন মানদানা।
ওমরাহ ভিসা খুলে দিয়েছে সৌদি সরকার। গত নয় মাস ধরে বাংলাদেশীদের জন্য এ ভিসা বন্ধ রেখেছিল সৌদি আরব। সোমবার ধর্ম বিষয়ক মন্ত্রণালয়ের জনসংযোগ কর্মকর্তা মো. আনোয়ার হোসাইন ওমরাহ ভিসা খুলে দেওয়ার বিষয়টি জানিয়েছেন।
তিনি বলেন, ‘গত ১৪ ডিসেম্বর ওমরাহ ভিসা খুলে দেওয়ার বিষয়ে পররাষ্ট্র মন্ত্রণালয়কে চিঠি দিয়েছে সৌদি সরকার। পররাষ্ট্র মন্ত্রণালয় রবিবার (২০ ডিসেম্বর) ধর্ম মন্ত্রণালয়কে চিঠি দিয়ে তা জানিয়েছে।’
তিনি আরও বলেন, ‘আগামী বছর (২০১৬ সাল) ওমরাহ কার্যক্রম পরিচালনার জন্য প্রাথমিকভাবে ৭০টি এজেন্সির তালিকা চূড়ান্ত করেছে ধর্ম মন্ত্রণালয়।’
ওমরাহ ভিসার মাধ্যমে হাজার হাজার বাংলাদেশী সৌদি আরবে রয়ে গেছেন, এজন্য এ ভিসা বন্ধ করে দেয় সৌদি আরব। এর পরিপ্রেক্ষিতে ধর্ম মন্ত্রণালয় ওমরাহ এজেন্সিগুলোর বিরুদ্ধে তদন্ত করে।
গত ১৮ নভেম্বর ওমরাহের নামে মানব পাচারের অভিযোগ প্রমাণিত হওয়ায় ৯৫টি এজেন্সির শাস্তি ঘোষণা করে ধর্ম বিষয়ক মন্ত্রণালয়। এরমধ্যে ৬৯টি এজেন্সির লাইসেন্স বাতিল, জামানত বাজেয়াপ্তসহ জরিমানা করা হয়েছে। শুধু জরিমানা করা হয়েছে ২৬টি এজেন্সিকে।
বিধিনিষেধ ছিল। ছিল কড়া নিরাপত্তা। তার মধ্যেও থেমে ছিল না উদযাপন।
![Fireworks go off as the new year is rung in in Times Square on January 1, 2016 in New York City. The New York City Police Department deployed more than 6,000 officers in the Times Square area, including more than 1,100 officers who graduated from the police academy on Tuesday.]({"default":"//img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/BBo6mmw.img?h=373&w=624&m=6&q=60&o=f&l=f&x=1304&y=859"} "New York's Times Square Hosts Annual New Year's Eve Celebration - Andrew Burton/Getty Images")
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