Toughest action for violation of law: DMP chief

Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Khandaker Golam Faruk on Wednesday warned the leaders and activists of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party of the toughest action if they violate the law.

“Toughest legal action will be taken if they violate the law,” he said at an emergency press briefing DMP media centre on Wednesday ahead of the BNP’s rally slated for December 10.

He said they cannot allow the BNP to hold a rally in front of its central office at Naya Paltan considering public security and suffering caused by the huge gathering of people.

Golam Faruk said their intelligence report said the BNP is preparing to mobilise ten lakh people at the rally in Dhaka. “There is no space in front of the BNP’s office to accommodate one million people. Hardly one lakh people can stand there. The remaining nine lakh people will spread onto different streets across the city and neither the BNP nor the police will have any control over the crowd,” said Faruk.

If ten lakh people occupy all the Dhaka thoroughfares, it will trigger extreme suffering for the residents of Dhaka, he said. “Thus we cannot allow them to hold the rally there which will invite public suffering and disruption of law and order,” he added.

Faruk said considering the overall aspects they allowed the BNP to rally at Suhrawardy Udyan. “Later, we came to know through the media that they are not interested to hold the rally there. They prefer any road around Naya Paltan.”

“In this context, the DMP’s clear statement is the rally has to be held in Suhrawardy Udyan or any similar open space. We have taken this decision to prioritise public suffering and public safety. If the BNP tries to assemble on road going against the law, toughest legal action will be taken against them,” he added.

Asked whether they would impose section 144 over any place, Faruk said still there is time before the rally. “If they change their mind and agree to hold a rally in Sahrawardy Udyan or any other open space like ijtema ground in Tongi, trade fair ground at Purbahal, there is no need to issue Section 144. If they do not give a decision by December 9, action will be taken as per the law,” he said.