Gopalganj still tense; 321 arrested, Section 144 enforced
The local administration imposed Section 144 in the district today to maintain the law-and-order situation after the end of curfew at 6am
Tension continues to grip Gopalganj even after the withdrawal of curfew early today (20 July), as the district struggles to return to normalcy following Wednesday's clashes that left five people dead and scores injured.
Even remote villages are feeling the aftershocks of the violence, said locals.
Although no curfew was in force this morning shops remained closed and the streets largely deserted.
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The local administration imposed Section 144 in the district today to maintain the law-and-order situation after the end of curfew at 6am.
The emergency restriction remained in force until 8pm today, said District Magistrate and Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Kamruzzaman.
Besides, four cases were filed in connection with the deaths of four people in the violent clashes on Wednesday (18 July).
Police filed the four cases with Sadar Police Station against 6,000 people today, said Mir Mohammad Sajedur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Sadar Police Station.
Although schools have reopened, student attendance remained extremely low. Teachers, however, were present as usual.
Some parents expressed concern over safety saying they did not feel the environment was safe enough to send their children to school.
Since early today, the main roads in the district town remained mostly empty with only a handful of rickshaws, vans, and auto-rickshaws seen operating.
The intermittent curfews, in place since Wednesday evening, have severely disrupted daily life.
Markets remain largely closed, and prices of essentials have surged due to low supply and high transportation risks.
Buyers are few, leaving sellers in distress as well.
Four separate cases were filed with Kashiani, Sadar and Kotalipara Police Station against over 3000 people. Leaders and activists of the banned Awami League and its affiliated bodies were among the accused.
All the cases were filed on charges of obstructing police from performing duties, vandalism and arson attacks on vehicles. A total of 321 people have been arrested so far.
On 18 July, five people were killed and scores injured when activists of the Awami League and its banned student wing Chhatra League reportedly carried out attacks on an NCP rally in Gopalganj.
