Gopalganj attack: NCP leaders, activists block Dhaka-Aricha, Dhaka-Ctg highways for 1 hour
Around 4:30pm today (16 July), some protesters blocked the Dhaka-Aricha highway demanding justice for the attack on NCP leaders in Gopalganj.
Leaders and activists of National Citizen Party (NCP) have blocked highways in Dhaka and Narayanganj, protesting the attack on their convoy in Gopalganj by members of the banned Awami League and its affiliated organisation, Bangladesh Chhatra League.
Around 4:30pm today (16 July), some protesters blocked the Dhaka-Aricha highway demanding justice for the attack on NCP leaders in Gopalganj.
The protesters, including students and NCP members, blocked the highway for an hour, gathering near the main gate of Jahangirnagar University and taking position on the highway, bringing traffic on both sides to a standstill.
During this time, protesters alleged that a peaceful program in Gopalganj was deliberately attacked, demanding immediate arrest and trial of the attackers and warning of tougher action if their demands are not met.
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The blockade ended around 5.20pm, our correspondent reported.
In another development, members of the Students Against Discrimination (SAD) announced a blockade program, resulting into demonstrations and road blockades by local NCP leaders and supporters at various points along the Dhaka-Aricha and Nabinagar-Chandra highways in the capital's Savar.
According to Ashulia Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Abdul Hannan, NCP supporters blocked the Dhaka-Aricha highway at the Nabinagar area from 4:30pm to 5:00pm.
Asadul Islam Mukul, a central committee member of the NCP, informed The Business Standard that their activists staged a protest and road blockade at the Zirani area of the Nabinagar-Chandra road in Ashulia, which continued until 5:30pm, in protest of the attacks in Gopalganj.
The bloackade, which caused severe gridlock on both sides of the Dhaka-Aricha highway, was lifted around 5:30pm, Mukul said.
Meanwhile, some NCP members blocked the Dhaka-Chattogram highway in Signboard area in Narayanganj, protesting over the same incident.
The blockade in Narayanganj was led by Abdullah Al Amin, central join member secretary of NCP, according to our correspondent.
The blockade started around 4:30pm, and was withdrawn around 6pm, our correspondent reported.
The 1.5 hour blockade created intense traffic congestion on both sides of the Dhaka-Chattogram highway, which stretched to a six kilometre area, according to our correspondent.
Abdullah Al Amin, the joint member secretary of NCP's central committee who led the blockade, said, "Due to the indifference of the administration, Chhatra League and Awami terrorists were able to carry out the attack. We are not satisfied with the role of the police and administration. If the authorities cannot ensure the security of the heroes of the July uprising, we will do whatever is necessary."
