STAFF CORRESPONDENT

Home Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury yesterday urged the public to refrain from smoking in open spaces as people are criticising a recent attack on two women by a group of men in the capital’s Lalmatia.

“From what I understand, the two women were reportedly smoking when some people, who were on their way to say their prayers, intervened. In the altercation, the women allegedly threw tea on them,” the home adviser said in reply to a question from a journalist while visiting the Public Order Management (POM) Police Lines in Mirpur.

“As you all know, smoking in public is prohibited for both men and women... It is an offence. Therefore, I request that no one smokes in public spaces. Especially during this month of Ramadan, everyone needs to show more restraint,” he said.

He added that “religious advisers” are also urging everyone not to eat or drink in public, as it is a sign of disrespect for those who are fasting.

On Saturday evening, two women were taken into custody after they got engaged in an altercation “You

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