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Tension flares countrywide

Political gatherings banned in four divisional cities, four districts towns; BGB deployed in six district headquarters; at least 181 opposition activists allegedly arrested in 10 districts

STAR REPORT
Local administrations yesterday banned all forms of political gatherings in four divisional cities and imposed Section 144 in four district towns to prevent violent faceoffs between the ruling and the opposition parties, which declared to hold rallies at same venues in those places today.
In addition, authorities imposed Section 144 at different places outside several district towns where political programmes were called by both the Awami League and the BNP.
Fearing violence over BNP-led opposition alliance's rally in the capital today, the government last night deployed Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) in at least six district headquarters-Dhaka, Narayanganj, Chittagong, Bogra, Rajshahi and Sylhet-and Sundarganj and Palashbari upazilas of Gaibandha. The force will also be patrolling three more district towns--Comilla, Satkhira, and Sirajganj-and Comilla's Chouddagram upazila from today.
Though gatherings were banned in Dhaka, Chittagong, Khulna and Barisal cities, Dhaka Metropolitan Police conditionally approved the opposition camp to hold its rally today. Meanwhile, Section 144 was imposed in four districts towns-Comilla, Joypurhat, Khagrachhari, and Bogra.
Apart from these places, Narayanganj district administration slapped Section 144 in Kanchpur Bridge area, while Section 144 was supposed to be in force in Bonpara municipality of Natore from 6:00am to 8:30pm today, at Bazar Station and Swadhinata Square of Sirajganj town from 6:00am to 10:00pm today, and in Satkhira town from 12:00am today till further notice.
In Panchagarh, the district administration was to enforce Section 144 in Nagarkumari Hat area of Boda upazila from 6:00am today till 12:00am tomorrow as two BNP factions declared rallies at the same place and time there.
Meanwhile, four BGB platoons were
deployed in Chittagong city while Chittagong Metropolitan Police last night allowed the BNP and the AL to hold rallies at separate places instead of Ladighi Maidan where both the parties had called their programmes at 3:00pm today.
In Khulna city, a ban was imposed indefinitely after the two political arch rivals announced rallies at five key points of the city today, reports a correspondent from Khulna. Khulna Metropolitan Police also prohibited carrying of all kinds of sharp weapons and sticks. Khulna BNP, however, decided to defy the ban and organise the rallies.
In Barisal city, the metropolitan police slapped a 24-hour ban on political assemblies from early today after the two parties called rallies in front of Ashwini Kumar Hall at 10:00am today. Police however, gave a conditional approval to the BNP to arrange a short procession in the morning.
In Bogra town, BGB platoons were deployed as the opposition alliance sticks to its plan to rally at Altafunnessa Playground at 3:00pm today, defying Section 144 slapped for 36 hours between from 6:00pm yesterday. Hours after imposition of Section 144, the 18-party alliance leaders in district town announced to hold today's rally at any rate.
Meanwhile, AL leaders and activists in the capital yesterday said they would stand ready to protest any anarchy by the opposition camp. On the eve of the opposition's Dhaka rally, the two parties clashed in Kushtia and Netrakona, leaving at least 35 people injured.
According to opposition's claim, the law enforcers rounded up 62 of their activists in Gazipur, 38 in Joypurhat, 30 in Barisal, 25 in Comilla, 10 in Manikganj, four each in Narsigndi and Brahmanbaria, three each in Bogra and Rangpur, and two in Bagerhat.
Apart from the districts where rallies were banned and BGB was deployed, tension was prevailing in different other districts including Tangail, Rangpur and Cox's Bazar.