<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000;">Bangladesh welcomed the arrival of the new year with several restrictions being imposed in the capital city Dhaka and other places in view of the Corona pandemic and security threat. Most of the people welcomed the new year on their rooftops or near someplace around their homes as public gatherings were banned by the police from the evening of December 31. However, bursting of firecrackers could be heard at midnight to herald the arrival of the new year in the country. At many places, the night sky was lit with flashing lanterns and fireworks even as police put a ban on firecrackers and public celebration of the new year events. <br />''<br />''Incidents of fire were reported from several parts of Dhaka as people went ahead with celebrating new year by lighting bonfires and on the rooftop and the neighbourhood and flying sky lanterns. However, no casualties were reported in the incidents. <br />''<br />''Bangladesh police tightened the security arrangement starting New Year eve in view of a global threat received from the IS to disrupt new year celebrations across the world. Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Shafiqul Islam told media persons on Friday nigth that the police received the threat from the IS on Thursday. Though the IS has no base in Bangladesh, the police beefed security as a precautionary step.<br />''<br />''Meanwhile, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) imposed restrictions on all kinds of outdoor activities including bursting of firecrackers from 6  p.m. on Friday. Entry of outsiders into Dhaka University campus from outside has been stopped since Friday evening. All public gatherings at open spaces including roof tops have been banned. Close watch is being kept on sensitive areas of the city including Hatirjheel, Banani, Baridhara among others. <br />''<br />''However indoor activities and events are allowed to take place with the observance of health measures declared by the government.</span><br />