On 22 August 2026, a pre-announced public rally at Dhaka’s Central Shaheed Minar calling for economic reform, recovery of illicitly transferred assets and stronger action against corruption could not proceed after the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) refused to allow the programme. The rally was jointly organised by Ahingsa Gono-Obhyutthan Bangladesh, Bangladesh Bhumiheen Andolon and Bangladesh Rashtra Sanskar Andolon. According to the organisers, they had obtained written approval from Dhaka University to use the venue and notified DMP 10 days in advance, requesting security arrangements.
DMP informed the organisers on 20 August that the rally would not be permitted, without specifying the substantive grounds in its written response. DMP later told Prothom Alo that permission was denied because a pending criminal case at Shahbag Police Station involved one of the three co-organisers, Ahingsa Gono-Obhyutthan Bangladesh. Bangladesh Rashtra Sanskar Andolon condemned the decision and demanded a clear government explanation. Other political and civic actors also criticised the restriction, arguing that the decision undermined constitutionally protected freedom of peaceful assembly.
The decision raises concerns about freedom of peaceful assembly and the proportionality of administrative restrictions, particularly where a pending case involving one participating organisation is used to prevent an otherwise pre-arranged gathering without a publicly identified, event-specific security threat. Such restrictions discourage civic and political actors from organising peaceful public advocacy.