DMP prohibits swords, spears and firecrackers during Ashura processions

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has banned the carrying of weapons and weapon-like objects, as well as the use of fireworks and firecrackers, during Ashura processions in the capital on June 26. The restriction will remain in force throughout the processions, from beginning to end, according to bdnews24.com.

In a public notice issued on Sunday under Sections 28 and 29 of the DMP Ordinance, Police Commissioner Mosleh Uddin Ahmed announced the ban on items including cleavers, daggers, spears, lances, swords and sticks, along with fireworks and firecrackers.

Ashura, observed on the 10th day of Muharram, is one of the most important occasions in the Islamic calendar. For Shia Muslims, it marks the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad, in the Battle of Karbala in present-day Iraq in 680 CE.

Tazia processions are held as mourning marches to commemorate the tragedy of Karbala.

The DMP said that in previous years some participants had carried weapons during the processions, leading to situations that threatened public safety and caused panic among residents. The police also noted that although the use of fireworks and firecrackers has become customary during Muharram, such practices are inconsistent with the solemn nature of the observance.