After violent clashes erupted centring an NCP rally in Gopalganj, army forces in addition to police and four platoons of BGB were deployed to restore order.
Around 2:45pm on Wednesday, a group of miscreants surrounded NCP leaders and workers at the town’s municipal park, blocking their vehicles and police transport from all sides.
As tensions escalated, police and army personnel fired sound grenades and blank shots to control the situation. NCP leaders and workers eventually manoeuvred their vehicles to exit the scene via alternative routes.
NCP Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwari accused former prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s party: “Awami League activists carried out this attack while law enforcement remained passive. We were assured everything was under control, but the opposite was true.”
Earlier in the day, tensions escalated when the NCP rally stage was vandalised around 1:35pm by two to three hundred individuals armed with wooden sticks and other such weapons. Sound equipment, microphones, and chairs were destroyed, and several NCP activists came under attack. Despite this disruption, the party’s central leadership, led by convener Nahid Islam, arrived promptly to address the crowd and continue the scheduled program.
The incident occurred around 2:45pm as NCP leaders and activists were departing from a rally held at the Municipal Park. According to eyewitnesses and party sources, the convoy was attacked by unidentified assailants alleged to be linked with banned groups, including the Awami League and its student wing, Chhatra League.
Following the incident, Gopalganj Deputy Commissioner Md Kamruzzaman imposed Section 144 across the district, confirmed by an executive magistrate.
Prior to this, NCP’s rally site was attacked with cocktails. NCP members blamed the banned Awami League student wing, Chhatra League, alleging they were the ones to vandalize sound systems, mics, and chairs.
‘Gopalganj has failed to become part of Bangladesh’
During Wednesday’s rally at the municipal park later, NCP’s chief organiser for the southern region Hasnat Abdullah declared that Gopalganj had failed to become a part of the new Bangladesh, in reference to its ties to ousted former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and her father, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, both of whom were born in the district.
“Dear people of Gopalganj, rise for Bangladesh!” he urged locals.
Moments before his speech, miscreants chanting “Joy Bangla” stormed the venue, smashing plastic chairs.
Referring to the former prime minister, Hasnat said, “If she loved you, she would be in Gopalganj instead of India. She only cared for own her family while Awami League systematically isolated this place.”
He vowed: “We’ve freed the country from tyranny – now, by Allah’s will, we will build a just Bangladesh,” going on to chant slogans like “Demolish the den of Mujibism!”
Escalating violence targets officials
The unrest reached alarming proportions when the Upazila Nirbahi Officer’s (UNO) convoy came under attack in the district’s Gandhiashur area, leaving several people injured.
Local police confirmed two constables – Kawsar Hossain and Minhaz Sarkar – needed to be hospitalised after the attack. Sadar Police OC Mir Md Sajedur Rahman stated these attacks appeared designed to disrupt NCP’s “July March” program, part of their month-long political campaign.
The town remained tense throughout Wednesday with visibly reduced public movement and many businesses keeping shutters down.
While NCP’s morning march was delayed, prominent leaders including Nahid Islam and Dr Tasnim Zara eventually addressed supporters at the rescheduled rally.
The series of violent incidents has cast a pall over the district, with security forces maintaining heightened vigilance to prevent further outbreaks.