At least three people were killed and several others injured in clashes between police and activists of Awami League and its associate bodies over a rally of the National Citizens’ Party (NCP) in Gopalganj on Wednesday afternoon.
Among the deceased, two were identified as Dipto Saha, 25, son of Santosh Saha from Udayan Road in Gopalganj town, and Ramzan Kazi, 18, from Kotalipara upazila.
Dr Jibitesh Biswas, deputy director Gopalganj General Hospital, said they were brought dead at the hospital.
The bodies of the deceased bore visible injury marks, and the death toll could rise further, he added.
Amid heightening tensions over the clashes, the government imposed curfew in the district.
The curfew will remain in force from 8am on Wednesday to 6pm on Thursday, according to the Chief Adviser’s press wing.
Supporters of the AL, banned BCL and other associate bodies, equipped with sticks and brickbats took positions at different streets and lanes, prompting Rab, army and BGB teams to intensify their patrol in the city.
Earlier, the local administration slapped Section-144 in Gopalganj Sadar.
“As part of NCP’s July march, there is a scheduled march and a meeting in the municipal park of Gopalganj today. To disrupt their programme, Awami League and Chhatra League activists initially attacked the police and later attacked and vandalized my car convoy,” said Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer M Rakibul Hasan.
The attack was carried out in Gandhiyashur area of Gopalganj Sadar upazila in the morning.
Echoing the UNO, officer-in-charge (OC) of Gopalganj Sadar Police Station Mir Md Sajedur Rahman said the NCP central leaders were supposed to visit the district as part of their month-long pgroamme.
Additional police forces have been deployed to prevent further trouble, he said, adding that no arrests have been made so far.
He, however, could not figure out the number of the injured police personnel immediately.
On August 10 last, at least seven people, including five army personnel, were injured and an army vehicle was set on fire during a clash near Gopinathpur bus stand in Sadar upazila.
Around 40,000 leaders and activists of the Awami League and its affiliated organisations took to the streets in a procession, protesting the forced exile of Awami League President Sheikh Hasina and demanding her immediate return to the country.
Later, a case was filed in Gopalganj naming 106 people and over 3200 unidentified ones for assaulting army personnel, vandalizing vehicles, arson attack, and snatching weapons.
The local administration slapped Section-144 in Gopalganj Sadar amid clashes between law enforcers and Awami League and Chhatra League activists (BCL) over NCP’s scheduled programme on Wednesday.
Deputy Commissioner of the district Muhammad Kamruzzaman enforced Section-144 but did not set any timeframe for it.
Alongside the police, Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) and army personnel, four platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have been deployed in the Sadar headquarters to avoid further untoward incidents, said Md Shariful Islam, public relations officer of the BGB Headquarters.
UNB’s district correspondent reports that supporters of the AL, BCL and other associate bodies, equipped with sticks and brickbats took positions at different streets and lanes, prompting Rab, army and BGB teams to intensify their patrol in the city.
A tense situation was prevailing in the city as chase and counter-chase continued between the law enforcers and the AL supporters.
Earlier in the morning, a number of people, including police personnel, were injured in an attack carried out by activists of AL and banned BCL to foil NCP’s programme in the district.
“As part of NCP’s July march, there is a scheduled march and a meeting in the municipal park of Gopalganj today. To disrupt their programme, Awami League and Chhatra League activists initially attacked the police and later attacked and vandalized my car convoy,” said Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer M Rakibul Hasan.
Amid the escalating tension, around 2pm, NCP's convenor Nahid Islam, southern region organizer Hasnat Abdullah, northern region organizer Sarjis Alam, leader Dr. Tasnim Jara, along with central leaders, arrived at the rally site in the municipal park area of the city.
The local party leaders and activists welcomed them with the slogan 'Inquilab Zindabad'.
Army personnel injured in worker attack at Gopalganj toll bridge
Around 3pm, after the July march the activists of the banned BCL attacked the vehicle convoy of the NCP while returning to Madaripur.
Earlier around 1:35pm, the banned Chhatra League men attacked the stage of the rally in the municipal park area.
