Desk Report : A Facebook group has launched a campaign against the waving of foreign flags by Bangladeshis in stadiums during cricket matches. The group, CP Gang (Crack Platoon), is also sticking bills across the country, making people aware that any unauthorised use of foreign flags was punishable under the law. Bangladeshis are often seen carrying foreign flags to galleries during international tournaments. Some even painted their faces and bodies with their colours during the recent Asia Cup tournament.

The gesture prompted Bangla Community Blog Alliance, a leading umbrella of Bangladesh-based blogs, to demand a ban on the entry of Bangladeshi citizens into stadiums with foreign flags.

Of late, CP Gang has opened an �event page� styled �We don�t want to see foreign flags in hands of Bangladeshis� in playgrounds�, notching up 5,500 members.

The group has also opened a page titled �Resist Pakistani cricket-lovers in this country�, commanding 9,000 �Likes� already.

The preface to the page referred to provisions of the National Flag Rules, 1972.

Section 9(I) of the rules says: �National Flags� of foreign countries can be flown on the chancery building(s) of diplomatic missions as well as on consular offices in Bangladesh, heads of diplomatic mission may, in addition, fly their �national flags� on their official residence as well as on their cars.�

The sub-section IV of the rules provides that the flag of a foreign state shall not be flown on any car or building in Bangladesh without the specific permission of the government of Bangladesh. The event page also says since stadiums fall under the category of buildings, the hoisting of foreign flags by Bangladeshis there amounted to a punishable offence.  The Facebook group has urged the government to ban the carrying of foreign flags by Bangladeshis the wearing of their colours on faces and bodies. The event page also writes: �Ghulam Azam (a condemned war criminal) had made a comment on cricket � �all anti-Paki animosities of Bangalis finish during India-Pakistan matches.�

Referring to the hoisting of foreign flags by Bangladeshis, a CP Gang poster says: �Stop for a while� Yes we are telling you� I am an ashamed Bangladeshi.� 

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Local Time : 0232 Hours 21 March 2014