Who are the five victims of Gopalganj violence?
Families have claimed that the victims were ordinary citizens with no active involvement in politics, raising further questions about the use of force during the unrest
At least five people have died so far in the violence that broke out in Gopalganj on 16 July, but all of their political affiliations are still unclear.
Families have claimed that the victims were ordinary citizens with no active involvement in politics, raising further questions about the use of force during the unrest – which stemmed from attacks by the supporters of the banned Awami League on the rally and convoy of National Citizen Party (NCP).
The latest deceased, Romzan Munshi, a rickshaw-puller from Thana Para in Gopalganj Sadar upazila, died around 1:45am on 17 July, while undergoing treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital, raising the death toll from the incident to five.
The other victims killed in the violence include banned Jubo League member Dipta Saha, 25, Romzan Kazi, 24, of Thana Para, Imon Talukder, 18, of Aropara, and Sohel Molla, 41, son of Idris Molla from Tungipara.
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Their families and neighbours claimed that they led modest, apolitical lives.
Dipta was a garment trader, Kazi worked as a tile mason's assistant, Imon was an employee at a crockery shop, and Sohel owned a mobile phone parts store.
Romzan earned his livelihood pulling a rickshaw. He had dreams of building a home and settling down after marriage, dreams that were ended by a bullet.
Their families are now left devastated, mourning not only the loss but the unjust nature of the killings.
"My son had done nothing wrong. He was closing his shop and heading home. Why did they shoot him?" cried Biva Rani Saha, mother of Dipta.
At Sohel's house, his elderly parents repeatedly fainted from grief. His wife, Nishi Begum, is now left alone to care for their two young children.
In Thana Para, the family of rickshaw-puller Romzan is equally heartbroken.
"He was saving to build a home. He wanted to start a family. We've lost everything," said a relative, holding back tears.
The clashes erupted on 16 July in Gopalganj Sadar's Ulupur area, during the National Citizen Party's (NCP) "March to Gopalganj" programme. Supporters of the banned Awami League reportedly attacked the rally.
Police sources said the attackers vandalised and set a police vehicle ablaze and physically assaulted several officers at the time. The situation worsened when the NCP convoy, while trying to leave Gopalganj, was again attacked, leading to a fierce and prolonged confrontation between the Awami League supporters and law enforcers.
Witnesses described Gopalganj city as a "war zone" during the unrest. To control the situation, both police and army personnel opened fire – which they said was done so in self defence.
Following the incident, police filed three separate cases against more than 2,300 people, including banned Awami League, Chhatra League, and Jubo League supporters, and arrested at least 164 individuals so far in connection with last Wednesday's violence.
The families of the deceased continue to ask: why were unarmed, non-political civilians shot and killed?
Officials say an investigation is underway. But for the grieving families, administrative assurances offer little solace.
