Sec 144 at Golachipa as AL, BNP announce rally at same venue

Section 144 prohibits holding of public gathering.

Special police have been deployed at Galachipa under the command of ASP Humaun Kabir.

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source

Awami League (AL) earlier called a public meeting at Galachipa High School ground yesterday (Sunday) afternoon, according to Magistrate Matiar Rahman, who is the UNO-in-charge in Golachipa.

Local AL sources said the meeting was scheduled to be addressed by AL General Secretary Abdul Jalil, central leaders Matia Chowdhury and K M Jahangir and local MP Mahbubur Rahman.

Golam Mustafa Tito, Galachipa AL secretary, claimed that they took permission for the public meeting from the administration on February 8.

On Saturday (February 14), the Four Party Alliances called a program at the same venue at the same time.

When contacted over phone, former lawmaker and Galachipa BNP President Shahjahan said they called a public meeting at the same venue at the same time to protest "terrorism and anarchy in the name of hartal".

Local administration sources said, they received written applications from both the ruling alliance and the opposition for holding meetings at the same venue at the same time on Sunday.

Matiar rahman said Section 144 was imposed as tension mounted over holding of programmes by the rival parties.

Al sources said, as Section 144 was imposed, they asked central party leaders not to come to Golachipa.

They said K M Jahangir and Mahburbur Rahman reached Barisal Sunday morning from Dhaka for the programme as they could not be informed. They returned Sunday afternoon.