Is Bangladesh Becoming A Police State?

Some days ago I wrote about Drik's upcoming exhibition on cross fire or extra judicial killing by the police and RAB of Bangladesh. One could predict that the authorities might be reacting, especially when we have a precedence that the Tibet exhibition in Dhaka (also by Drik) was stopped by police.

Here are the Twitter messages by Shahidul Alam from Yesterday:

Mar 22nd 4:07 PM police at Drik. Demanding "Crossfire" show be stopped.

Mar 22nd 4:07 PMEarlier RAB media cell rang saying we needed special permission to show pictures related to RAB. Livestreaming at www.drik.tv

The event was being inaugurated yesterday by Indian writer and human rights activist Mahasweta Devi, along with Nurul Kabir, editor of the New Age, M Hamid, chief executive officer of RTV and Jorge Vilacorta, a curator from Peru. According to the police the exhibition would create ‘unrest.’

The 'Crossfire' gallery was closed around 3:30pm yesterday, which was scheduled to start at 4:00pm.

Drik said that the Police could not show any warrant, court order or any executive order.

Shahidul Alam who set up the exhibition said," Police asked me whether I have permission for the exhibition. Crossfire for which police do not need permission, then why should I have permission for the exhibition?"

Now the question is what is the rule of law say? Does every exhibition require prior police permission? If so why the rule is applied in specific circumstances and not for all? And will RAB ever give permission if they are the guilty ones? Who will police the police? Is there any accountability of the police forces? Or is Bangladesh becoming a police state?