People welcome the New Year 2013 through a cultural programme at the Teachers Students Centre of Dhaka University midnight past Monday. — Sourav Lasker

Revellers poured out into the streets singing and dancing and exploding crackers to usher in the year 2013 as the clock struck midnight past
Monday amid jubilation.
Security was heightened in Dhaka and other cities to fend off any untoward incidents during New Year celebrations.
Hundreds of peoples, especially the youths, started thronging Dhaka University campus, clubs and hotels and restaurants in the evening to bid farewell to 2012 and welcome the New Year, witnesses said.
They greeted each other, handed in flowers, cards and other gifts to friends on the occasion.
Posh hotels and clubs hosted parties on the occasion featuring dance, fashion shows and concerns, among other programmes.
President Zillur Rahman, prime minister Sheikh Hasina and leader of the opposition in parliament Khaleda Zia issued messages greeting the countrymen and expatriate Bangladeshis on this occasion.
President Zillur Rahman said, ‘I hope the New Year will bring progress, development, prosperity and happiness to our lives.’
On the Dhaka University campus hundreds of revelers joined the celebrations by singing, dancing, exploding and forming merry-go-round and beating drums as countdown began for bidding farewell to 2012 and welcome 2013.    
The city police imposed restrictions on carrying firearms and using explosive substances, especially firecrackers, reckless driving, loud honking, any activities hampering religious sentiments, and using loudhailers, the officials said.
Security measures were put in place for posh areas of the capital, including the diplomatic zones at Gulshan, Banani and Uttara. The lawmen set up checkpoints at strategic points in the capital.
A large number of the city dwellers earlier left Dhaka for different tourist spots. Hundreds of tourists crowded the Cox’s Bazar sea beach.