What police report says on Gopalganj violence

At least four people were killed and more than 50 others, including 45 police officers and constables and several journalists, were injured in violent clashes in Gopalganj yesterday (16 July) during a scheduled rally by the NCP, a police report said.

The violence erupted during the party's "March to Gopalganj" programme, part of its month-long nationwide campaign titled "July March to Rebuild the Nation," commemorating last year's July uprising, according to the police report published by CA Press Wing today.

The NCP had announced a public rally at 11am at the Gopalganj municipal open stage. As NCP central leaders made their way to the venue from Barishal, law enforcement and local administration were already deployed for security.

However, around 9:30am, members of the now-banned Bangladesh Awami League and its wings attacked on-duty police officers at Ulpur area of Gopalganj sadar and set their vehicles on fire, leaving one police inspector and two other officers injured, said the report.

It added that simultaneously, multiple roadblocks and acts of sabotage were carried out across Gopalganj. At Kansur Bus Stand, 40 to 50 Awami League and Chhatra League activists led by a local Chhatra League leader reportedly blocked the road, set fire to wooden logs and vandalised the vehicle of the Gopalganj UNO around 11am.

In Abdur Haat area under Kotalipara police station, some 2,800-3,000 Awami League activists brought out a procession, blocking roads by felling trees and brandishing makeshift weapons around 11:30am. Around 11:40am, some 200–300 Awami League supporters allegedly used local weapons and similar methods to block the Gopalganj–Kotalipara road in Kathi Bazar area of the sadar upazila.

Before the NCP leaders could reach the rally venue, a group of 50 to 60 armed attackers — allegedly members of the banned Chhatra League — stormed the stage around 1:40pm, shouting "Joy Bangla" slogans.

They detonated crude bombs, vandalised banners and chairs, and launched an armed assault, the report said.

Shortly after, at around 2:15pm, more explosions occurred in Satpar Bazar, and motorcycles were set ablaze.

Crowds used tree trunks to barricade roads and set fires at multiple locations, the report further said.

Despite the disruption, the NCP leaders managed to take the stage by 2:01pm, led by party Convener Nahid Islam.

The rally concluded by 2:50pm, and the leadership began to leave for Madaripur under joint police and Army escort.

However, at around 3pm, their motorcade was intercepted by armed supporters of the Awami League and affiliated banned organisations near the Gopalganj launch terminal.

Security forces attempted to de-escalate the situation, but came under attack. Protesters hurled stones and assaulted both police and army personnel, as well as the NCP activists.

In addition to physical clashes, attackers also targeted government infrastructure, including the Gopalganj district jail, the report said.

Due to the escalating violence, law enforcement moved the NCP leadership to the office of the superintendent of police for safety.

By 4:58pm, they were escorted out of the district via Bagerhat toward Khulna.

Later in the evening, around 7:30pm, an agitated mob forcibly took the bodies of the individuals killed during the clashes from the district hospital before post-mortems could be conducted, the report also said.

So far, 20 individuals have been arrested in connection with the violence. To maintain order, a total of 1,507 police personnel along with Army and BGB forces have been deployed across the district, the report added.

The local administration imposed a curfew effective until 6pm tomorrow (18 July), with a two-hour break from 12pm to 2pm.   

The situation in the district is currently under control, the report claimed.