Gopalganj: At least four lives were tragically lost and scores left wounded in Gopalganj on Wednesday as fierce clashes erupted between law enforcement and activists of the Awami League (AL). The violence, as reported by The Daily Star, stemmed from escalating tensions surrounding a rally organised by the National Citizen Party (NCP).
The genesis of the unrest lay in a scheduled NCP rally at Poura Park in Gopalganj town, which met with vociferous opposition from AL supporters. This defiance by AL activists occurred despite an existing government prohibition on all political activities by the Awami League.
Early on Wednesday, AL supporters reportedly took to blockading the Gopalganj–Tekerhat road near Ulpur, felling trees and causing widespread disruption. Protesters further escalated their actions, setting ablaze one government vehicle and vandalising another, before forcibly breaching the NCP rally venue.
Eyewitness accounts, corroborated by The Daily Star, describe a dramatic escalation of violence after NCP leaders departed the rally and were subsequently attacked near Chowrangi. The conflict rapidly engulfed various parts of the district, leaving in its wake a trail of at least four fatalities and numerous injuries.
In an immediate response to the rapidly deteriorating law and order situation, the government imposed a curfew across Gopalganj, effective from 8:00 PM on Wednesday until 6:00 PM on Thursday. Furthermore, authorities announced the suspension of all ongoing Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC), Alim, and HSC (Vocational) examinations within the district, with formal notifications issued by the respective education boards around 10:30 PM.
The district remains gripped by tension, with security forces having been strategically deployed across sensitive zones to preempt any further escalation of the volatile situation.
Read More: Fire Scorches Tomorrowland Main Stage, Festival’s Future Hangs in Balance