Members of armed police battalion stand guard on the Ashwinikumar Hall premises in Barisal city on Thursday. Photo: Star
The authorities today slapped ban on political meetings, rallies and demonstrations in Khulna city, in an area of Barisal city and Bogra and Dinajpur municipality areas as the ruling Awami League and main opposition BNP planned meetings at the same venue for October 25.
The ban was imposed for indefinite period in Khulna, 24 hours in front of Ashwini Kumar Hall in Barisal city and 48 hours and 36 hours in Bogra and Dinajpur towns.
Earlier on October 19, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police put an indefinite embargo on similar political activities in the capital while the Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) also slapped same type of ban in the port city from yesterday following possible face-off between the AL and BNP.
In another development, the Chittagong Metropolitan Police deployed four platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh as the BNP vowed to hold its planned rally tomorrow at Laldighi Maidan in the port city defying the ban.
KHULNA
Khulna Metropolitan Police (KMP) imposed an indefinite ban on all types of political gatherings and processions in the city as the AL and BNP announced counter rallies at five key strategic points in the city for tomorrow, reports a correspondent from Khulna.
The ban that will begin from midnight Thursday will continue till further notice, said a press release signed by Rashida Begum, assistant deputy commissioner of Khulna Metropolitan Police.
Police also put an embargo on carrying any kinds of sharp weapons and wooden sticks, the press release added.
The rallies are scheduled to hold at Shaheed Maharaj intersection in Sadar Police Station; KDA New Market intersection in Sonadanga Police Staion; Daulatpur Bus stand ground in Daulatpur Police Station; Newsprint Mill Chattar in Khalishpur Police Station; and Phulbari Gate area in Khanjahan Ali Police Station at 3:00pm tomorrow.
BARISAL
Barisal Metropolitan Police also imposed ban on rallies in front of Ashwini Kumar Hall in Barisal city for 24 hours from Thursday midnight as AL and BNP planned counter rallies at the same venue for tomorrow, reports our correspondent.
Police only put the ban in front of Ashwini Kumar Hall where the Awami League and BNP are scheduled to hold rallies, said Md Shamsuddin, police commissioner of Barisal.
The ban was not imposed in other points of the city, the police commissioner added.
BOGRA
Local administration today slapped a 48-hour ban on all types of political meetings, rallies and demonstrations in Bogra municipality area as the ruling Awami League and main opposition BNP convened meetings at the same time on October 25.
The ban which will start from 6:00pm today will continue till 6:00am Saturday, said Mohammad Hossain, additional district magistrate of Bogra.
Meanwhile, BGB troops will also be deployed in Bogra town to avoid any untoward incident following the October 25 showdown of both the political rival parties.
“We’ve already asked for the deployment of three platoons of BGB in Bogra,” said Arifuzzaman, Nejarat Deputy Collector (NDC) of Bogra.
The BGB troops is expected to begin their patrolling from evening as they are coming from the neighbouring district Naogaon, reports our Bogra correspondent quoting official concerned.
The ban was imposed as the Bogra district unit of BNP was scheduled to hold a rally at Altafunnesa Play Ground in the district headquarters at 3:00pm tomorrow demanding restoration of the caretaker government for holding the 10th parliamentary election and protesting local election office’s decision to drop the name of Tarique Rahman, the senior vice-chairman of BNP, from the voter list.
The situation got tense when the ruling Awami League unit of the district declared to hold a rally at the same time and venue terming the BNP’s rally “as a tool to create anarchy and an ill-attempt to impede the next parliament election”.
JOYPURHAT
Local administration has imposed section 144 in Joypurhat municipality area as AL and BNP sought permission for holding separate meetings at Zero Point at 10:00am Friday, said Mohammad Yasin, deputy commissioner of Joypurhat.
The ban will remain in force from 6:00pm today to 6:00am Saturday, administration sources said.
Ignoring the restriction, the activists of the ruling and opposition parties, through loudspeakers, have been urging people to throng the venue timely.
A huge contingent of police has been deployed in the area to maintain law and order.
Md Hamidul Alam, superintendent of police of Joypurhat, said at least 38 people were arrested from different parts in the district since Wednesday suspecting that they may carry out subversive activities tomorrow.
COMILLA
Local administration has imposed section 144 for an indefinite period in Comilla City Corporation area as AL and BNP called separate rallies at 3:00pm Friday, said Iqbal Hosain, additional district magistrate in Comilla.
The ruling party men planned to hold their rally at Comilla Town Hall while the opposition BNP organised their programme at nearby Pubali intersection, Iqbal said.
Meanwhile, BGB personnel will also be deployed in Sadar and Chauddagram upazilas of the district from 6:00am tomorrow to avoid any untoward incident centring the rallies, said Tutul Chakravarty, superintendent of police in Comilla.
Source: The Daily Star
