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Anti-riot police personnel patrol along a street ravaged with burning plastic chairs, allegedly vandalised by the Awami League party activists rebuking a rally by the newly formed Jatiya Nagarik Party, or National Citizen’s Party in Gopalganj on Wednesday. — AFP
At least four people were reported killed and several injured in fierce clashes between Awami League and its banned student-wing Chhatra League activists and law-enforcers centering a rally in Gopalganj on Wednesday.
The incident forced the authorities to put Gopalganj — the paternal hometown of AL chief and deposed PM Sheikh Hasina — under curfew from 8:00pm Wednesday until 6:00 pm today (Thursday).
Deputy Director of Gopalganj General 250-bed Hospital Jibites Biswas told the FE local correspondent that three people died. Later, another person was reported killed in the mayhem.
The deceased were identified as Dipto Saha, 25, son of Santosh Saha of Udayan Road, Gopalganj, Romjan Kazi, 18, son of Kamrul Kazi of Kotwalipara, Sohel Molla, 41, Tungipara, of Gopalganj, and Imon Talukder, 24, Gopalganj sadar.
The chief adviser’s press wing made an announcement earlier on Wednesday evening leaders of the National Citizen Party (NCP) leaders had to leave Gopalganj town under army escort.
Around 1:45pm Wednesday, 200-300 locals armed with sticks attacked the NCP’s rally venue at the Poura Park in Gopalganj town, eyewitnesses said. The attackers were all supporters of the local Awami League and its affiliated organisations.
“Several crude bombs exploded during the chaos, and bricks were also thrown, leaving several people injured,” says a spot account of the melee.
“During the attack, police officers present near the stage were seen quickly retreating to the court premises, while NCP leaders and activists also fled the scene.”
Police and army personnel opened fire to control the situation. Police and army vehicles came under attacks during the clashes.
Convoy of Gopalganj sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer was also attacked.
A doctor of Gopalganj 250-bed hospital told the media that eight to ten people were injured critically and were receiving treatment at the hospital.
Despite attacks, vandalism, and attempts to block their programme, the uprising-offshoot National Citizen Party held the rally, chanting the slogan ‘Mujibism Murdabad (Down with Mujibism)’. During the rally, party leaders also vowed to “bury Mujibism in Gopalganj”.
“Intelligence failure and police inaction” were largely responsible for the troubles that went out of hand, according to observers.
Leaders of the National Citizen Party issued a stern warning during the Gopalganj rally-later reiterated at a press conference-that the party will “bring justice” if law enforcement fails to act against those responsible for attack on their programme.
“We are going to bring our justice if the police forces fail,” said NCP leaders Nahid Islam and Hasnat Abdullah, as they addressed thousands of supporters in a charged atmosphere following the attack ahead of their scheduled programme earlier in the day.
Both drew sharp parallels between the present situation and what they called the “drama” of past regimes, vowing to dismantle the remnants of “Mujib’s legacy”.
Hasnat Abdullah, in a charged speech, directly called out former prime minister Sheikh Hasina: “Dear people of Gopalganj, Hasina has fled to India but not here in Gopalganj. A self-serving leader like her never once thought of the people here. Gopalganj could never truly become a part of Bangladesh. But we assure you Gopalganj belongs to Bangladesh. Standing on this very soil of Gopalganj, we declare: break down and burn the den of Mujib’s legacy. Long live revolution.”
Nahid echoed the warning, pledging stronger resistance, “Today the Mujib group has again tried to block us. We will respond with double strength. If the police fail, then it becomes our responsibility to protect Bangladesh.”
He further stressed that the envisioned “new Bangladesh” would guarantee equality and reject extremism under the guise of politics.
“We won’t tolerate any terrorist activities in the name of Gopalganj,” he said, warning that the resistance would escalate if justice is not ensured.
Both leaders ended their speeches with the slogan: “Inqilab zindabad, long live revolution.”
According to television live coverage, chase and counter-chase were seen between law enforcers and BCL in the area following these incidents.
Following the rally, violence ensued again as Gopalganj’s Poura Park area turned into a battlefield after the venue of the NCP rally was attacked, allegedly by the activists of the banned Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL).
Army personnel and police rushed in to restore law and order in the area.
Meanwhile, the leaders of the NCP left Gopalganj amid the attacks and clashes in the area. Their motorcade departed Gopalganj after 5:00pm towards Katakhali in Khulna with the assistance of the army and police.
NCP Joint Member-Secretary Mushfiq Us Salehin confirmed the development to the media.
The NCP leaders vowed that they will continue their programme. “Our march will continue. Our next programme is in Madaripur. We will make a decision and announce it after reaching Katakhali,” he said.
He, however, said all NCP leaders were safe and in good health.
Meanwhile, the government termed “heinous act” the attack on leaders and activists at a peaceful NCP rally in Gopalganj allegedly carried out by members of the banned Awami League’s Chhatra League and AL activists. It will not go “unpunished”.
In a statement issued by the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing in the afternoon, the government termed the use of violence in Gopalganj “utterly indefensible”.
“Preventing young citizens from peacefully holding a rally to commemorate the one-year anniversary of their revolutionary movement is a shameful violation of their fundamental rights,” it said.
The statement further said the members of the NCP, police and media were subjected to brutal attacks, with their cars vandalised and individuals violently assaulted.
“The perpetrators must be swiftly identified and held fully accountable. There is no place for such violence against any citizen of Bangladesh,” it mentions.
The government commended the army and police for their prompt intervention, and applauded the resilience and courage of the students who carried on with their rally despite these “malicious threats”.
“Those responsible for this brutality will face justice. Let it be made absolutely clear: violence has no place in our nation. Justice must and will prevail.”
Meanwhile, leaders and activists of the NCP withdrew their blockade at Shahbagh intersection on Wednesday, following nearly an hour-long protest against alleged attacks by Awami League supporters on their party’s rally venue and the convoy of party leaders in Gopalganj.
Around 6pm, the protesters left the intersection, allowing vehicular movement to resume.
Before leaving, organisers announced over loudspeakers that they were heading to the party’s central office in Banglamotor.
The blockade began around 5:00 pm Wednesday when NCP supporters gathered at Shahbagh and began chanting slogans condemning the attacks.
Protesters demanded accountability and the safe return of their party leaders from Gopalganj.
During the hour-long blockade, long tailbacks were reported on roads connecting Shahbagh to the Science Lab and Press Club, causing significant inconvenience to commuters.
Activists from NCP’s Dhaka Metropolitan unit, as well as central and Dhaka University leaders of the Democratic Students’ Council, took part in the demonstration. Among them was Abu Bakr Mojumdar, the council’s central convener.
Chanting slogans like “Why the attack in Gopalganj? We demand answers!”, “Why is my brother bleeding? Interim government must answer!”, and “Break the dark hands of the Awami League!”, the protesters blocked traffic at the busy intersection for nearly an hour.
During the blockade, NCP’s Joint Member Secretary Akram Hossain CF told The Business Standard, “Our blockade will continue across the country until all our leaders return safely from Gopalganj.”
Later in the evening, NCP Convener Nahid Islam called on supporters to lift all blockades on highways and streets of Dhaka and other cities across the country.
In a post from the party’s official Facebook page at 5:46pm, he urged protesters to remain on one side of the road to reduce public inconvenience. “The fight will go on,” he said.
talhabinhabib@yahoo.com