Joint forces are allegedly arresting innocent people during their ongoing operations in various areas of Gopalganj, forcing locals, particularly youths, to flee their homes.
The towns of the district’s five upazilas and adjacent villages are now almost devoid of male residents, as many have taken shelter at relatives’ homes in different southern districts. Others have reportedly fled to the capital, according to many locals.
So far, at least 306 people have been arrested since Thursday night on various charges under the Anti-Terrorism Act and the Special Powers Act. These arrests were made in connection with four cases filed with Sadar, Kashiani, and Kotalipara police stations.
Police said more than 3,008 people have been accused in the cases — 358 of them named, while the rest remain unnamed.
Gopalganj Sadar Police Station chief Sajedur Rahman told reporters on Saturday that they were accused on charges of vandalism, arson, and anti-state activities in connection with acts of violence during the National Citizen Party’s July March rally in Gopalganj.
The latest case was filed on Friday night under the Anti-Terrorism Act for vandalism, arson, and blocking roads with felled trees.
The case, filed by Sub-Inspector Shamim Al Mamun, named 54 individuals and lists 350 unidentified accused. So far, 44 people have been arrested in this case alone.
Locals say that as many of the accused are unnamed, it leads to fear and uncertainty, even among those uninvolved in politics.
Meanwhile, amid widespread outcry over the burial of four individuals killed in Wednesday’s law enforcement firing without autopsies, Home Adviser Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said, if necessary, the bodies could be exhumed to ensure a proper investigation.
Family members of the arrested have alleged that the joint forces are making indiscriminate arrests. Those detained have been sent to Gopalganj District Jail.
“The culprits fled the area after Wednesday’s violence. Those being arrested are innocent,” alleged a resident of Sadar upazila, seeking anonymity.
A woman from Gobindapur village, wishing not to be named, said, “My husband is a day labourer and has no political ties, but out of fear of arrest, he has not come home for two days. At night, we feel unsafe.”
Day labourer Nasir Hawlader, 41, has not been accused in any case and has no political affiliation.
“Police picked up my neighbour Rahman, who has spent his whole life working in agriculture. I feel scared about the arrests. What if they take me too, even without my name being on any list? So, I crossed the river at night and came to my uncle’s house,” he said.
Gopalganj Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime and Operations) Ruhul Amin Sarkar told Times of Bangladesh, “We are only arresting specific accused individuals. There is no question of harassing innocent people.”
According to sources from five local police stations, 92 people were arrested under Gopalganj Sadar Police Station, 77 under Kashiani Police, 88 under Muksudpur, 27 under Tungipara, and 22 arrested under Kotalipara Police Station.
Human rights organisations, including Ain o Salish Kendra, have urged the government to stop wholesale arrests and ensure fair investigations and justice.
Violence broke out on 16 July, when members of the banned Awami League and Chhatra League allegedly attacked the NCP’s programme. Clashes with law enforcement ensued, resulting in five deaths and over 50 injuries.
In response, Section 144 was imposed, followed by a curfew later that night. The curfew has since been extended and will remain in effect until Sunday morning.
The curfew will be in effect from Saturday 8:00pm to Sunday 6:00am, according to the latest order from the district administration.