THE partisan role of the law enforcement agencies was once again evident on July 19 when the Dhaka Metropolitan Police allowed and gave protection to the rally held by the ruling Awami League and foiled and attacked rallies held by political parties in opposition. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party on July 18 announced that it would hold a rally in front of the National Press Club in the morning on July 19, protesting against the killing of protesting students during the ongoing movement for reforms in the quota system in civil service while the Awami League, in apparently a typical response to counter BNP programmes, announced that it would hold a rally in the afternoon on Bangabandhu Avenue. The city police initially banned all political rallies in Dhaka. Several hundred leaders and