Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal on Wednesday reiterated that Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami can't organise rally under their own banner as the party is not registered.
Speaking to reporters following an inter-ministerial meeting organized on the occasion of Victory Day 2023, he said, Jamaat would not be given permission to hold a rally under their own banner as the party is not registered.
The Home boss further said,"We didn't give permission before, we wouldn't now. Jamaat is not a registered party. So, if they come under the banner of Jamaat-e-Islam, there is no way they would be given permission for a rally.”
Asked if Jamaat sought permission at all, the minister said the DMP commissioner could confirm that, as he does not have the authority to grant permission for holding rallies.
"All political parties have the right to practise democracy. But if they defy rules and regulations, the law enforcement forces will resist them,” he continued.
"So, we are clear that if the political parties apply to the DMP commissioner but say they would vandalise or stage blockades, then the commissioner will not give permission for rallies. Our commissioner will surely allow them if they carry out their activities peacefully," the minister further said.
Kamal, however, said he is not the one who decides which party gets permission to hold rallies – rather, it lies solely in the hands of the DMP.
"Neither the BNP nor the Awami League have been given permission for the 28 October rally yet. The DMP commissioner will decide who gets permission to hold rallies and where."
"If 10 more parties want to hold rallies on the same day, we will allow them if they can do it peacefully. There will be no chaos if everyone follows the law," he said, responding to whether two parties would be given permission to rally on the same day.
Replying to another question, Asaduzzaman said Ansar forces will not be given the power to make arrests.
He said, "There has been some misinformation. The Ansar were never given the permission to make arrests and we haven't today either. There is no law we have which will empower them to do so," he said.
"Let me make one thing clear, there is no room for misunderstanding. This is propaganda, all misinformation. No such incident happened. We always say that both our forces are members of our security forces," he said.
"All law enforcement agencies must operate within the ambit of our Criminal Procedure Code. This is the main point. The upcoming bill is in the final stages of scrutinization. It has gone to the standing committee, which will examine it," the law minister added. He said any sentence in the upcoming bill, which contradicts the law, would be amended.
Kamal said all law enforcement agencies would act in accordance with the existing criminal law.