The High Court (HC) has directed the authorities to steps to ban holding political rallies in the vicinity of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque in Dhaka.
A HC bench issued the ruling on Tuesday (27 February).
Earlier, a writ petition was filed in the HC seeking the declaration of any kind of political rally or protest movement in the mosque as illegal.
The High Court has directed the Religious Affairs Ministry, Islamic Foundation, Home Ministry, and Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) to resolve the issue within 90 days.
The writ stated that, "Various Islamic fundamentalist political parties and organizations have been organizing protest movements, political rallies, and meetings almost every Friday after Jumma prayer and also on normal days for the last several years at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque."
"As soon as the prayers were over, the people who came to participate in the rally and demonstration chanted slogans from inside the mosque and took positions on the stairs adjacent to the mosque. In such a hurry, the ordinary religious worshipers feel scared and suffer from insecurity," added the writ.
“Worshipers are afraid of performing their regular five-time prayers, including Friday prayers, at the Baitul Mukarram Mosque due to the regular clashes following the political rallies. This is contrary to Article 41 of our great constitution. The mosque is not a party office of any political party but a place of worship for Muslim devout people,” the writ further said.