Authorities have enforced Section 144 in the Pathor Bazar area of Dighalia Upazila, Khulna from 5pm to 10pm on Friday to prevent possible unrest over rival BNP factions holding events at the same location.
According to reports, the Dighalia Upazila unit of BNP had called for a protest rally and demonstration at Pathor Bazar in response to a gun and bomb attack by alleged miscreants on the house of district BNP member secretary Abu Hossain Babu.
Party activists began gathering to carry out the pre-scheduled protest rally at 5pm on Friday.
Meanwhile, without any prior announcement, BNP’s Senior Joint Secretary in the United States, Md Parvez Mallick, announced to hold a public outreach event at the same location. This triggered anger and tension among the leaders and activists of the Dighalia Upazila BNP.
Upazila Nirbahi Officer and Executive Magistrate Ariful Islam issued the Section 144 directive, effective from 5pm to 10pm on Friday, to maintain law and order. The order bans any form of public gathering, procession, seminar, or assembly in the affected area during this period.
He warned that failure to adhere to the order would lead to legal action.
A tense situation has been prevailing in the area till filling the report. Additional police and joint forces have been deployed for patrols and maintaining security.
