The local administration imposed Section 144 for two days in Godagari upazila of Rajshahi following a clash between two groups of BNP over the party鈥檚 founding anniversary celebrations.
Upazila Nirbahi Officer Faisal Ahmed issued the notification on Tuesday afternoon which banned all meetings, gatherings and processions in the municipality from 5:00pm on Tuesday to 12:00am on Wednesday.
The party activists said that the group led by retired Major General Sharif Uddin, planned to hold a programme at Mahishal Bari in Kakonhat municipality on Wednesday, where Sharif Uddin, adviser to the BNP chairperson, himself was expected to attend as the chief guest.
Meanwhile, the Godagari upazila BNP announced a separate event in front of the party office on Wednesday afternoon and nomination seeker Advocate Sultan Islam Tarek was scheduled to attend this programme.
Eyewitnesses said the clash occurred Tuesday afternoon when Sharif Uddin鈥檚 supporters blocked preparations at the upazila BNP office.
Later, the police arrived and controlled the situation.
Abdus Salam Shawal, president of Godagari upazila BNP, said that they had received prior permission from administration to celebrate its anniversary.
鈥楽harif Uddin鈥檚 supporters unfairly deterred our programme, although two venues are almost 1 kilometer apart,鈥� he added.
Ziaul Haque Sorkar, president of Kakonhat municipality BNP, said, 鈥楴ow that Section 144 is imposed, we will decide on the programme after discussing with our leader (Sharif Uddin),鈥� he added.
OC Ruhul Amin of Godagari Model police station said that police controlled the situation after receiving reports of the clash.
UNO Faisal Ahmed said both groups had informed the administration about their events in advance.
鈥楢s they clashed before the events, Section 144 has now been imposed to maintain law and order,鈥� he added.
