At least four people were killed and over 50 others, including police personnel and journalists, were injured in violent clashes during a National Citizen Party (NCP) rally in Gopalganj on Wednesday, prompting a curfew and deployment of joint forces to restore order.
The rally, held under the banner ‘March to Gopalganj’ as part of the NCP’s month-long nationwide programme titled ‘July March to Build the Nation’, was scheduled to begin at 11:00 am at the Gopalganj Municipal Open Stage.
Chronology
According to a police report on Gopalgonj violence, law enforcement had been deployed from early Wednesday morning to ensure security. The trouble began around 9:30 am when members of the banned Chhatra League, Awami League and its affiliated wings reportedly attacked on-duty police officers in Ulpur, Gopalganj Sadar, setting police vehicles ablaze and injuring one inspector and two others.
At around 11:00 am, a the Kansur Bus Stand on the Gopalganj-Tekerhat road, 40–50 activists allegedly led by Md Omar Faruk Khan Ripon, Joint Convener of the banned Chhatra League’s Gopalganj Municipality unit, blocked the road by felling trees and lighting fires. The vehicle of the Gopalganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) was vandalised at the scene.
Simultaneously, reports emerged of further blockades and violence.
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In Kotalipara at around 11:30 am, around 2,800–3,000 Awami League supporters led by Shamim Daria (General Secretary, Kotalipara Upazila Chhatra League) obstructed the Kotalipara–Poysar Haat road, while at around 11:40 am, 200–300 Awami League supporters, allegedly led by Mamun of the banned Chhatra League’s Gopalganj Municipality unit, gathered in the Kathi Bazar area of Gopalganj Sadar, using local weapons to block roads.
At around 1:40 pm, as NCP central leaders were arriving at the venue, 50–60 armed attackers shouting slogans reportedly affiliated with the banned Chhatra League stormed the stage using crude bombs and sharp weapons. Despite the assault, NCP leaders, including Convenor Nahid Islam, proceeded with the rally at 2:01 pm.
Further violence broke out at 2:15 pm in Satpara Bazar, where two more crude bombs were exploded and two motorcycles set on fire in the Satpara Bazar area of Gopalganj Sadar. Roads were blocked, and fires were lit at multiple locations.
The rally concluded at around 2:50 pm, attended by around 200 people. However, the NCP motorcade of Nahid Islam and leaders, left the venue under police and army escort en route to Madaripur, was intercepted near the Gopalganj Launch Terminal at around 3:00 pm.
The attackers used sharp weapons and pelted stones and bricks at law enforcers and NCP leaders. Government property, including the Gopalganj District Jail, was also attacked.
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In the ensuing violence, four people were killed and over 50 injured, including 45 police personnel and several journalists. NCP leaders were escorted to safety at the Gopalganj Superintendent of Police’s office and later departed for Khulna at 4:58 pm with support from joint forces.
At around 7:30 pm, a group of unidentified people forcibly took away the bodies of the deceased from Gopalganj District Hospital, obstructing post-mortem procedures.
Police have arrested 20 individuals suspected of involvement. A total of 1,507 police personnel, along with Army and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) troops, have been deployed in the district. A curfew has been imposed until 6:00 PM Thursday. Authorities have confirmed that the situation is currently under control.