Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal has said the ban slapped by Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) on holding any rally in the capital is still in force.
"The DMP will decide about allowing BNP to hold a rally after lifting the ban," the minister said.
The minister came up with the statement while addressing a programme in Brahmanbaria.
The programme was arranged marking launching of a book titled 'Jibon Smrity-2', an autobiography of freedom fighter Humayun Kabir, at Ustad Alauddin Khan Memorial Auditorium in the district.
The home minister, however, said police do not obstruct any peaceful programme of BNP.
The DMP on February 6 slapped a ban on holding any procession and carrying sharp weapons, explosives, flammable materials in the capital until further notice.
The ban was slapped ahead of the verdict against the BNP chief and five others in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case delivered on February 8.
UNB said, the BNP plans a public rally in the city on February 22 demanding the release of its chairperson Khaleda Zia from jail.
Party's senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said they decided to hold the rally either at Suhrawardy Udyan or in front of their central office.
Among others, local lawmaker RAM Obaidul Muktadir Chowdhury, Deputy Inspector General of police (Chittagong Range) Md Moniruzzaman, Deputy Commissioner of Brahmanbaria Rezwaunur Rahman and Police Super Mizanur Rahman attended the programme.
Brahmanbaria municipality mayor Nayar Kabir presided over the function.