In the wake of the violent clashes between alleged Awami League activists and law enforcement officials at a National Citizen Party rally on Wednesday, a curfew was imposed on the district of Gopalganj, leaving a town still grappling with the events from the day before.
In a notification issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, the curfew was extended indefinitely, with a three-hour break: between 11am and 2pm on Friday.
The town still bore signs of the violence it had witnessed on Wednesday, with broken debris, burnt rally paraphernalia, and bamboo sticks littering the usually occupied streets of Gopalganj.
The clashes on Wednesday had resulted in the deaths of at least four people, with dozens of others injured. Government officials and political party leaders have demanded (and promised) swift justice. As of Thursday night, more than 100 people had been detained in connection with the attacks.
The incident has turned Gopalganj into a ghost town, of sorts: Closed shops and a few local residents seen moving from one place to another.
With the curfew extended, people were seen rushing to the Gopalganj Police Line bus station, desperate to get a ride out of town, only to find many others had similar plans.
Tickets were being sold at inflationary prices, with barely any tickets available to accommodate the number of people wishing to leave.
As night embraces the town, the air of Gopalganj hangs heavy with anxious patience, waiting for a new day to bring answers to its residents – and the rest of the country.
Only time will tell what tomorrow brings.