The joint forces on Thursday arrested at least 20 individuals in connection with violence centring NCP's rally in Gopalganj on Wednesday.
Gopalganj Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime and Operations) Md Ruhul Amin Sarkar said in the ongoing joint operation in Gopalganj since Wednesday, the army has arrested 15 individuals, while police have arrested five others.
Dhaka Range Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Rezaul Karim Mallik went to Gopalganj for an inspection on Thursday afternoon.
All involved in Gopalganj incident to be arrested: Jahangir
Home Adviser Lieutenant General Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury (retd) on Thursday vowed to arrest all involved in the attack on the top leaders of the National Citizen Party in Gopalganj.
"Those who have committed crimes will be arrested. There is no question of sparing them," he said in a briefing on the Gopalganj incident at the home ministry.
Replying to a query, the home adviser said he had already asked the law enforcement agencies to take necessary measures so that no such incident occurs again.
About the current situation in Gopalganj, Jahangir said, "The situation in Gopalganj is now normal."
This statement comes as NCP's Central Convener Nahid Islam on Wednesday announced a countrywide protest on Thursday in response to the attack on their rally in Gopalganj.
He also issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the authorities, demanding the immediate arrest of those responsible for the attack.
Curfew in Gopalganj
The interim government on Wednesday evening imposed a curfew in Gopalganj from 8:00pm on Wednesday to 6:00pm on Thursday.
The decision was conveyed by the chief adviser's press wing.
Earlier, groups of men tried to attack the National Citizen Party leaders shortly after the party's rally at Gopalganj's Municipality Park ended in the afternoon the same day.
The attackers also set fire to the stage and chairs and tried to block the vehicles of the NCP leaders from leaving the area.
Law enforcers used firearms to clear the road and took the NCP leaders to the deputy commissioner's office, reports our correspondent present at the scene.
The administration imposed Section 144 to calm the situation, said Muhammad Kamruzzaman, deputy commissioner of Gopalganj.
Four platoons of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) were deployed in the area, said BGB spokesperson Shariful Islam.
A statement on the chief adviser's verified Facebook page within hours of the incidents said the violence was 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. Members of the National Citizen Party, police and media were subjected to brutal attacks, with their cars vandalised and individuals violently assaulted," reads the statement.
The heinous act, allegedly carried out by members of the banned Awami League's Chhatra League and AL activists, will not go unpunished, it adds.
NCP leaders said the attackers were activists of the Awami League.
After the rally, when they were leaving the venue in their cars around 3:00pm, hundreds of people attacked the vehicles, some of which were carrying media personnel. Several vehicles were vandalised.
Police took action against the attackers, and a chase and counter-chase ensued between the two groups, said a Dhaka Stream reporter from the spot.
The NCP event was part of the party's planned appearances in all 64 districts of the country this month.
Comments