The High Court (HC) on Sunday said police can only use live ammunition as a last resort to control riots that cannot be quelled by other means, such as rubber bullets or tear gas.
The court said police must act within the law and respect citizens' constitutional rights in a democratic state.
The High Court bench of Justice Mustafa Zaman Islam and Justice S M Masud Hossain Dolon made the observations after hearing a writ petition calling for a ban on live ammunition against protesting students.
The bench, however, summarily rejected the petition.
In its observation, the HC said, "Law enforcement agencies must prioritise the protection of human life and dignity as the most precious resource."
Every citizen has the right to peaceful protests, assemblies and public meetings under the constitution. Law enforcement agencies may only use force when absolutely necessary and to the extent required for their duties, it said.
According to the court, freedom of peaceful assembly must be enjoyed equally by everyone and authorities must not discriminate against any individual, group or organisation on any grounds.
The concerned authorities must comply with their legal obligations and be accountable for any procedural or substantive failures, the court observed.
Two Supreme Court lawyers Manzur-Al-Matin and Aynunnahar Siddiqua filed the writ petition with the High Court on July 29 seeking orders preventing the government from using live rounds against protesters across the country and securing the immediate release of six coordinators of the Anti-Discrimination Students' Movement from police custody.
The HC bench dismissed the second part of the petition as the coordinators had already been released.
Opposing the petition, Attorney General AM Amin Uddin and Senior Advocate Shah Monjurul Hoque said the petitioners were seeking to achieve political goals.
Barrister Aneeq R Haque, representing the petitioners, said the observations were their desired outcome and that the court had issued them.
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