No lethal weapons used during Gopalganj clashes: Army
Colonel Shafiqul has stressed that the military’s intervention helped prevent greater bloodshed in Gopalganj
The Bangladesh Army has stated that no lethal weapons were used to quell the recent unrest in Gopalganj surrounding a rally organised by the student-led National Citizen Party (NCP).
"Bricks, stones, and even crude bombs were thrown at our personnel. When there was a threat to life, we were compelled to use force, but no lethal weapons were used," said Col Md Shafiqul Islam, colonel staff of the Military Operations Directorate at Army Headquarters, during a press briefing at the Officers' Mess in Dhaka Cantonment today (31 July).
The clashes, which occurred between supporters of the banned Awami League and law enforcers, initially left four people dead on the day of the incident (16 July), with another person later dying while undergoing treatment.
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Colonel Shafiqul emphasised that the army remains politically neutral, saying, "We did not assist any political party. Our only goal was to ensure the safety of NCP leaders in Gopalganj, as there were credible threats to their lives."
He stressed that the military's intervention helped prevent greater bloodshed. "Had we not acted decisively, the situation could have led to major casualties. Our priority was protecting lives, not favouring any side."
In response to questions about attacks on NCP rallies in Gopalganj, he clarified, "Permission for such rallies is under the jurisdiction of the local administration. The army only steps in when there is a risk of the situation spiralling out of control."
Addressing allegations that an army officer had been involved in training Awami League leaders and activists, Colonel Shafiqul acknowledged the issue and said, "We are aware of the allegation. An investigation is underway, and findings will be made public once the probe is complete."
