Controversy over ‘AL people cannot remain in public’ directive; Sylhet police chief says ‘wording error’
The order stated: “By December 2025, necessary legal measures should be taken to ensure that no members of Awami League or its associate organisations can remain in public within the SMP jurisdiction. ACs, ADCs, and DCs will monitor the matter.”
A directive from the Sylhet Metropolitan Police (SMP) commissioner, instructing officers to ensure that Awami League leaders and activists do not remain in public, has sparked widespread debate after it circulated on social media.
The office order, signed by SMP Commissioner Abdul Quddus Chowdhury, instructed officers-in-charge (OCs) of police stations to prevent Awami League members from appearing in public.
However, today (30 September), the commissioner said the directive contained a "wording mistake".
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Recently, the commissioner held a meeting with senior SMP officials to review the city's law-and-order situation, according to sources.
Following the meeting, on 28 September, the directive signed by him was distributed among police officials.
The order stated: "By December 2025, necessary legal measures should be taken to ensure that no members of Awami League or its associate organisations can remain in public within the SMP jurisdiction. ACs, ADCs, and DCs will monitor the matter."
When contacted, the SMP commissioner said, "Awami League is a banned organisation. This is a state decision. Our actions are based on that."
He added, "There may have been some wording errors in the directive. We will correct it and resend."
Syeda Shirin Akter, lawyer and president of Citizens' Awareness Committee Sylhet, said, "If someone is an accused in a case and there is a warrant against them, police may arrest that person. Otherwise, preventing anyone from moving about in public is a violation of law and human rights."
