Constitution of Bangladesh (1972)Part
III: Fundamental Rights: Article 37: Freedom of assembly --
Every citizen shall have the right to assemble and to participate in public
meetings and processions peacefully and without arms…..
Article 37: Freedom of assembly -- Every citizen shall have the right to assemble and to participate in public meetings and processions peacefully and without arms…..
Restrictions may impose on this right in the interest of Public
Health or Public Order (is considered to be the absence of all acts that are a
danger to the security of the State and absence of insurrection, riots,
turbulence or crimes of violence)
Article 39: 1) Freedom of thought and conscience is guaranteed…..
Article
39: 2) Subject to reasonable restrictions imposed by law in the
interests of the security of the State, friendly relations with foreign states,
public order, decency or morality, or in relation to contempt of court,
defamation or incitement to an offence.
Bangladesh Penal Code
Section 124A: Sedition Who ever by
words, either spoken or written, or by signs, or by visible representation, or
otherwise brings or attempts to bring into hatred or contempt, or excites or
attempts to excite disaffection towards
the Government established by law, shall be punished.
Section 141: Unlawful assembly An
assembly of five or more persons is designated an “unlawful assembly” if the common
object of the persons composing that assembly is –
i)
To overawe by criminal force, or show of force, the
Government or any public servant in the exercise of the lawful power of such
public servant;
ii)
To resist the execution of any law, or any legal process;
iii)
To commit any mischief or criminal trespass, or other
offence;
iv)
By means of criminal force, or show of criminal force, to any
person, to take or obtain possession of any property, or to deprive any person
of the enjoyment of a right of way, or of the use of water or other incorporeal
right of which he is in possession or enjoyment, or to enforce any right or
supposed right;
v)
By means of criminal force, or show of criminal force, to
compel any person to do what he is not legally bound to do, or to omit to do
what he is legally entitled to do.
Special Powers Act
Section 2(f) Prejudicial Acts
i)
Prejudicial to the sovereignty or Defence;
ii)
Prejudicial to the maintenance of friendly relations with
foreign powers;
iii)
That prejudices the security of Bangladesh, endangers public
safety or maintenance of public order;
iv)
Creates or incites hatred, feelings of enmity between
communities, classes or sections of people
v)
Incites or interferes with the administration and maintenance
of law and order;
vi)
Prejudices maintenance of supplies and services essential to
the community;
vii)
Causes fear of alarm in public;
viii) Prejudices
economic or financial interests of the State.