Bangladesh News

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has imposed an indefinite ban on carrying firearms, explosives, sticks, oars, sickles and other harmful materials in any kind of rally, demonstration, procession, siege and blockade programme in the capital from today.

DMP Commissioner ABM Bazlur Rahman in a press release declared the ban yesterday, a day before the Awami League-led 14-party alliance’s countrywide siege programme on electoral issues.

Leaders of the immediate past ruling BNP also announced on Friday that their activists would remain in the streets wielding scythes.

The DMP commissioner told The Daily Star last night that around 13,000 law enforcers–about 10,000 from police and the rest from Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) and Rapid Action Battalion (Rab)–will be deployed at 30 points in the capital “to thwart any untoward incident”.

“Different political parties have announced various programmes, including blockade, on November 12 and thereafter. These political parties have asked their leaders and activists to gather in Dhaka with sticks, oars and scythes, which has created fear among the people. And this may hamper security of Dhaka,” says a DMP notification issued yesterday.

Signed by Bazlur Rahman, the notification said the restrictions were imposed under sections 28 and 29 of the DMP Ordinance for the imperative of maintaining law and order, and public security, and protecting government establishments.

The DMP commissioner at a press briefing yesterday urged all not to create any obstacle to the free movement of public and transportation of goods.