Rallies banned in Dhaka

DMP Joint Commissioner (media) Monirul Islam briefing reporters on the ban on rallies inside Dhaka metropolitan at police media centre on Sunday, January 4, 2014. Photo: TV grab

With both Awami League and BNP preparing for rallies marking January 5 polls, Dhaka Metropolitan Police banned all rallies in the capital for indefinite period from 5pm today.

The ban will come into force from 5:00pm today and will be effective until further notice, Masudur Rahman, deputy commissioner (media) of DMP told The Daily Star Online.

However, any social or religious programmes will not be inside this gathering, DMP Joint Commissioner Monirul Islam told reporters in a press briefing at DMP media office in the capital around 12:40pm.

Responding a query on whether ruling Awami League would be eligible to hold its scheduled rally, the official said DMP’s ban will be effective “irrespective of any political party.”

“But, if any party approaches the police seeking permission for a rally, we will scrutinise the plea and may grant them permission if we see it fit,” he added.

He asserted that the law enforcers were prepared to thwart any attempt at anarchy or chaos in the city. “We will not allow any form of chaos in Dhaka metropolitan.”

The BNP has announced for a rally “no matter what” for January 5 marking what it calls the day democracy was killed in the country through a farcical elections.

Ruling Awami League, on the other hand, terms January 5 the day democracy was protected. They said they would also hold rallies in the capital to thwart BNP.