Speaker Jamiruddin Sircar gave the permission to hold the programme on the occasion of International Women's Day, despite Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP)'s imposition of restriction on commoners' gathering and any type of rally on the parliament compound.

"This is a bad instance that a ministry held a rally violating the restriction," said a high official of the Jatiya Sangsad, adding that the South Plaza of the parliament is used only to accord reception to visiting state guests.

"The speaker gave permission to hold the rally. As he is the authority, we have nothing to do," DMP Commissioner SM Mizanur Rahman told The Daily Star.

Surprised at the incident, a number of lawmakers attending the parliament session yesterday questioned how the speaker allowed such a programme when the session was going on.

More than a hundred women activists from across the country joined the programme that was followed by a cultural function.