Dhaka, Aug. 12 -- The government has imposed a strict ban on all meetings, rallies, and public gatherings inside the Bangladesh Secretariat as part of enhanced security measures.

A notification issued on Tuesday by the Public Security Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs stated that officials must obtain prior permission from the ministry to remain on the premises after 6:00pm, on weekends, or on public holidays for official work.

Citing the Secretariat as the "nerve centre" of the nation's administration, the directive outlined several measures: prohibition of processions and rallies, ban on unauthorised meetings in ministry conference rooms, mandatory display of entry passes by all officials and staff, restriction on distributing ...