BANGLADESH

Local authorities on Wednesday banned all sorts of public gathering at Narail Sadar upazila as two rival factions of Juba Dal, the youth wing of opposition BNP, announced simultaneous rallies at the same venue.

The Section 144, banning public gatherings, took effect within 200 metres of the city's main intersection near the BNP office from 9am to 8pm, additional district magistrate Khandakar Hasnat Tarik told .

Narail Sadar Police Station OC Mohammad Rafiqul Islam said Mashiar Rahman, the president of Juba Dal's Narail district unit, called a rally at 11am in front of the local BNP office to welcome the unit's new office-bearers.

Local Juba Dal leader Kamruzzaman also convened programmes at the same venue to observe the 76th birth anniversary of the party's founder late Ziaur Rahman, he said.

"It leaves chances of deterioration of law and order," Rafiqul Islam said.