Dhaka Metropolitan Police bans lantern flying on Aug 15

A policeman claims the force have received information about the Awami League planning to fly black lanterns on Friday

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has banned the flying of any kind of lantern in the capital for 13 hours.

In a notification issued on Thursday, the DMP said: “Under the Dhaka Metropolitan Police Ordinance, the flying of any kind of lanterns in the Dhaka Metropolitan area will be prohibited from 11pm on Aug 14 to 12pm on Aug 15.”

Police Commissioner Sheikh Md Sazzat Ali urged residents to comply with the directive.

The notice did not specify the reason for the ban.

But a police official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said they had received information about a plan by the Awami League to fly black lanterns on Friday.

The ban, the official said, was intended to maintain law and order.

Police typically issue directives against the use of lanterns, crackers or fireworks during celebrations such as Christmas and New Year’s Eve to avoid accidents.

However, those orders have often been ignored.

In the past, lanterns have caused burn injuries, set houses and shops on fire, and led to accidents on the metro rail lines.

Last year, the High Court issued a rule asking why the authorities’ failure to control fireworks and lanterns should not be declared illegal.