CMP Bans Rallies from GEC to Dewanhat After BNP-NCP Tensions

The Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) has banned all public gatherings, processions, and meetings on the main road and surrounding areas from the GEC intersection to Dewanhat in Chittagong city.

The restriction was announced in a public notice signed by CMP Commissioner Hasan Md. Shawkat Ali on Monday (May 18) and later confirmed by CMP Assistant Commissioner (Headquarters) Aminur Rashid.

According to the notice, the ban was imposed under Section 30 of the Chittagong Metropolitan Police Ordinance, 1978, to maintain public safety and law and order. The restriction takes effect on May 18 and will remain in place until further notice. Violators will face legal action.

The police order follows tensions on Sunday (May 17) evening, when the Chattogram Metropolitan Branch of the National Citizen Party (NCP) held a "July Graffiti Drawing" program in front of the Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) office at Tiger Pass.

NCP activists alleged that the CCC had ordered the removal of July Uprising graffiti from the pillars of the Shaheed Wasim Akram Flyover. However, CCC Mayor Dr. Shahadat Hossain denied the allegation, stating that no such instructions were issued by his office.

The situation escalated late Sunday night when local BNP and NCP activists took up opposing, face-to-face positions in the area, prompting authorities to issue the security ban.