The Dhaka Metropolitan Police on Friday changed in hours its decision over banning rallies and processions in the capital following requests from two major political parties 鈥� the ruling Awami League and the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party, officials said.
The DMP on Friday morning, against the backdrop of students鈥� job quota protests that turned deadly for the past few days, issued a notice banning all the rallies and processions in the city.
But later, around noon, it changed the decision and said that all the processions and rallies would remain banned in the capital, except the venues in front of the central offices of AL and BNP.
DMP additional deputy commissioner (media and public relations) KN Roy Niyoti said that the ban would remain effective until further order.
鈥榃e had to change the decision on banning rallies and processions due to聽 requests from the two major political parties. They were allowed to hold rallies in front of their central offices.鈥�
He said that they had also banned movement of motorcycles in the metropolitan area until further notice.
Asked whether there was any decision about holding rallies and processions by other political parties, he said, 鈥榥ot yet, no other political party is yet to seek permission to hold rally in the city.鈥�
Though the AL was allowed to hold their pre-scheduled rally in front of its party central office on Bangabandhu Avenue, the BNP leaders and activists were not allowed to reach in front of its central office at Naya Paltan in the capital.
The BNP at a press conference on Thursday night announced to hold a rally in front of the National Press Club in the city protesting against killing of protesters during the quota movement across the country.
The AL, later at the night, announced to hold an 鈥榓nti-terrorism rally鈥� after 鈥榞hayebana janaza鈥� or funeral prayer in the absence of a body, on Bangabandhu Avenue Friday afternoon.
BNP leaders said that though they had announced to hold their rally in front of the National Press Club, the DMP at about 2:00pm on Friday informed them to hold the rally in front of their party central office.
鈥楢ctually, the police changed their decision to create a scope for AL to hold their rally. They attacked our leaders and activists on way to party central office and did not allow us to reach the rally venue,鈥� said BNP standing committee member Mirza Abbas, terming the DMP鈥檚 decision change a 鈥榝arce鈥�.
Over 100 leaders and activists of our party were injured in police attack, he said.
AL leaders in their rally alleged that the BNP-Jamaat and anti-liberation forces had intruded in the students鈥� movement and launched attacks to create chaos across the country.
The BNP leaders, however, accused the government, law enforcement agencies, the ruling Awami League and its associate organisations of launching attacks on students鈥� peaceful protests and killing the protesters.
Over 50 people were killed across the country since July 16 in clashes during students鈥� protests demanding quota reform in government jobs.