The Dhaka Metropolitan Police has given the ruling Awami League and the opposition BNP to hold separate rallies in Dhaka on 23 conditions.
The Awami League will hold its rally at the south gate of the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque and the BNP before its central office at Naya Paltan – from 2pm-5pm on Wednesday, reads a letter signed by DMP Commissioner's Special Assistant Syed Mamun Mostafa on Tuesday.
The conditions are —
(1) This permit is not an approval of the use of the space; separate permission must be obtained from the concerned authorities for using the space.
(2) The terms and conditions stated in the space usage permit must be followed accordingly.
(3) All rally activities shall be restricted to the approved place.
(4) Adequate number of self-managed volunteers (with visible ID cards) should be recruited for security.
(5) According to the instructions of the local police administration, high-resolution CCTV cameras should be installed around the spot under a party's own management.
(6) Arrangements should be made for checking those coming to the rallies under their own management through handheld metal detectors (in a controlled manner).
(7) Firefighting systems should be kept at the venue under the party's own management.
(8) Use of microphone/audio equipment should be limited to prevent noise pollution; no microphone/audio equipment shall be used outside the approved area.
(9) Projectors shall not be placed outside the permitted area.
(10) There shall be no gathering of people outside the authorized places, on the streets or on the pavements.
(11) Microphones/speakers shall not be used during calls for prayers, prayers and other religiously sensitive times.
(12) Caricatures/speech on any subject likely to hurt religious sentiments shall not be displayed or propagated.
(13) The stage shall not be used for any purpose other than rally activities.
(14) People can come to the rally venue two hours before it starts.
(15) The entire proceedings of the rally must be completed within the allotted time (2pm to 5pm).
(16) Under no circumstances shall obstruction be caused to the movement of vehicles on the main road.
(17) No activity that disturbs law and order and public safety shall be carried out.
(18) No anti-state activity or speech shall be given.
(19) No inciting speech shall be made or pamphlets distributed.
(20) Sticks and rods shall not be used under cover of carrying any kind of baton/banner or festoon.
(21) The organizing authority will be responsible for the breakdown of law and order and any untoward situation.
(22) If the said conditions are not duly complied with, this permission order will be considered to be cancelled with immediate effect.
(23) The authorities reserve the right to cancel this permission order without assigning any reason in the public interest.
