Confusion has been created over the ban on rallies as the Home Ministry in a statement said no ban was imposed on ‘general’ rallies and processions. However, the home minister made it clear that a ban has been slapped on rallies and demonstrations.
There is also conflicting statement from two top ministers over the period of and the reason behind the ban.
Home Minister MK Alamgir announced in Chittagong on Sunday that no political party would be allowed to hold rallies or public meetings in Dhaka for the next one month to “maintain law and order and prevent subversive acts.”
However, LGRD Minister Syed Ashraful Islam, also general secretary of ruling Awami League, told reports that the ban is across the country in view of “natural calamities” and for an indefinite period.
“At this moment of natural calamities, we should ensure that everything operates normally and the affected people can be properly helped. The ban is not only for the opposition, but for us also,” Ashraf told reporters.
But Home Ministry statement cited a different reason for the ban. “The government will not give permission to any political party to hold rallies if there is possibility of anarchy and loss of lives and property. But the government has no objection in ‘general’ rallies and meetings,” said the statement issues on Sunday night.
“It is not a ban, it is a pre-cautionary measure for the sake of protecting people’s lives and property,” it said.
Meanwhile, MK Alamgir told BBC Bangla: “The constitution gives the right to hold rallies and meeting on some logical conditions. That means those who would stage rallies they are not allowed to destroy public property, torch vehicles and burn Holy Quran.”