Organisers claim police obstructed minority conference in Dhaka; police deny
When members attempted to enter the venue, they claimed police barred them, saying the programme could not be held without prior permission.
Organisers of the National Minority Conference in Dhaka have claimed that the police prevented them from holding the event at Khamarbari yesterday morning (22 August), whereas police authorities have denied the claim.
The event, titled "National Minority Conference 2025: From Hills to Plains, Resolute in Protecting Existence", was scheduled to take place at the auditorium of the Krishibid Institution Bangladesh (KIB) from 10am under the banner of "Minority Rights Movement."
According to the organisers, all preparations were completed. However, when members attempted to enter the venue, they claimed police barred them, saying the programme could not be held without prior permission.
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Normally, for such programmes, organisers must apply to the commissioner several days in advance. The police then analyse the security requirements before granting permission. But, they hurriedly submitted their request the night before the event.
The organisers then staged a brief sit-in on the footpath outside Khamarbari before dispersing.
"We applied to the Dhaka Metropolitan Police [DMP] commissioner for permission on Thursday afternoon, but received no response," Subrata Ballav, a member of the organising body, told The Business Standard today (23 August).
He claimed, "When we tried to enter the hall yesterday morning, the police obstructed us. They said since we had no approval, the conference could not be held."
However, Tejgaon Division's Deputy Commissioner (DC) Md Ibne Mizan denied the allegation.
"It is not true that police obstructed the event," he told TBS.
DC Mizan said, "Normally, for such programmes, organisers must apply to the commissioner several days in advance. The police then analyse the security requirements before granting permission. But, they hurriedly submitted their request the night before the event."
He added that for minority-related programmes, ensuring adequate security is an important matter. "With such short notice, it was not possible for us to make the necessary arrangements."
"That is why the organisers were advised to seek approval properly and hold the programme on a larger scale in the future. Police will extend full cooperation then," he said.
