Local administration has imposed section-144 in Akkelpur municipality of Joypurhat to maintain law and order centring the counter-programmes announced by two BNP factions.

Akkelpur Upazila Nirbahi Officer Manjurul Alam said they placed it banning any kind of rally, gathering, procession, use of sound systems and motorbikes at Rajakanda Government Primary School and a one kilometer area surrounding the school as both the groups fixed the same venue to hold their programmes at the same time

The section-144 will be in place from 12pm to 12am (midnight) and police and army personnel remain vigilant, he said.

Prompt legal actions will be taken if anyone tries to violate section-144, the UNO said.

Locals said there had long been a dispute between two groups led by former lawmaker Engineer Golam Mostafa and Rajshahi divisional assistant organizing secretary AHM Obaidul Rahman Chandan over the formation of upazila unit committee.