Strongly protesting the restriction on holding rallies and public meetings in Dhaka metropolitan areas without prior police permission, BNP on Wednesday said this “anti-people” move is an “ominous” sign both for politics and democracy.
In a statement, party Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said: “Such a decision by the government goes against the constitution and fundamental rights of people.”
He urged the government to immediately withdraw the decision.
As per the constitution, the BNP leader said any citizen and organization has the right to assemble freely.
“But it’s unfortunate but true that since the present government has come to power, this right of people enshrined in the constitution has either been snatched or restricted or controlled at different times, which is a violation of the constitution,” he remarked.
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Fakhrul said the government has once again violated the constitution by suddenly imposing a restriction by the DMP on arranging rallies and public meetings by political parties, religious and social organizations without prior permission.
He alleged that the government is trying to control politics and snatch people’s rights on the pretext of permission and various conditions. “It [government] is also narrowing and blocking the normal path of politics.”
Fakhrul also alleged that the government has made the move “snatching” people’s basic and constitutional rights only to protect itself from a mass-movement and the public’s wrath by “abusing” the administration.
Earlier in the day, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) urged all to refrain from holding any meeting, rally and taking out any procession in the capital without prior permission.
In a press statement, DMP Commissioner Md Shafiqul Islam also warned of taking legal action if such a program is held defying the request.
