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The district administration has imposed Section 144 across Habiganj municipality following rival programmes announced by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the National Citizen Party (NCP), citing fears of clashes and deterioration in law and order.
The order was issued on Wednesday by Habiganj District Magistrate Dr G M Sarfaraz.
According to the order, the NCP had announced a protest rally and street meeting in the municipality on Wednesday. At the same time and venue, the Habiganj Sadar Upazila BNP, Habiganj Municipal BNP and the district unit of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal announced a counter-protest and sit-in programme.
The administration said a large turnout from both sides was expected, with tensions already running high. It warned that the rival gatherings could trigger violence, cause damage to lives and property, disrupt public order and worsen the overall law-and-order situation.
To maintain peace, the district magistrate imposed restrictions under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898, banning gatherings of five or more people, public meetings, processions, slogans, picketing, the use of loudspeakers and other activities likely to disrupt public order within the Habiganj municipal area.
The order took effect immediately and will remain in force until further notice.
Meanwhile, the NCP has called for nationwide protest rallies on Wednesday in protest against Tuesday’s alleged attack on its leaders and activists in Habiganj.
In a press release issued by the party’s office cell, the NCP alleged that BNP activists attacked the motorcade of its Chief Organiser Sarjis Alam and Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary during a peaceful march in Habiganj on Tuesday.
The party strongly condemned the incident and instructed all its metropolitan, district, upazila and thana units to organise protest demonstrations in their respective areas.
According to the allegation, the attack occurred on Tuesday evening near the Town Hall in Habiganj as the NCP leaders were returning after a march.
The party claimed that local leaders and activists of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal carried out the attack, leaving several journalists and NCP members injured. Police later rescued those affected.