DMP bans all gatherings in Dhaka’s Bijoynagar ahead of Jatiya Party rally

The move aims to ensure public safety amid rising tensions over the Jatiya Party's rally plans

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police has prohibited all forms of gatherings in Dhaka’s Bijoynagar amid rising tensions surrounding the announcement of a rally by the Jatiya Party.

The announcement came in a public notice signed by DMP Commissioner Md Mainul Hasan on Friday evening.

The ban includes all forms of meetings, rallies, processions, and demonstrations in the vicinity of Pioneer Road and adjacent areas.

The restriction is set to take effect on Saturday to maintain public order amid concerns following recent clashes, which included an arson attack on the Jatiya Party's head office in Bijoynagar.

The unrest began shortly after Hasnat Abdullah, a coordinator of the Anti-discrimination Student Movement, made provocative remarks on social media targeting the Jatiya Party, calling for the ouster of ‘traitors’.

In a press conference on Friday, Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader said their planned rally would go ahead.

The Bangladesh Students' Rights Council subsequently warned that they would not permit the rally to take place.

During a separate press conference at Dhaka University, the council's President Bin Yamin Molla demanded the arrest of Jatiya Party leaders.

“You have heard that the Jatiya Party has announced a rally for [Saturday]. We have information that they are bringing in Awami League activists from different places of the country for the rally. We are repeatedly issuing ultimatums for the ban on these allies of fascism. They are attempting to return in different forms,” said Yamin.

He added, “We want to know the government's stance towards them. We want to know how the DMP Commissioner allows these accomplices of killers to hold a rally.”