Gopalganj, a town steeped in political history, witnessed a day of escalating violence and political confrontation on Wednesday.
The National Citizen Party (NCP), a rising political force born from last year's youth-led uprising, marched into Gopalganj with a symbolic campaign titled "March to Gopalganj"—but what was meant to be a peaceful political expression spiralled into street warfare.
The day saw a police vehicle set ablaze, a government official's car vandalised, rally stages demolished and burned, and clashes between law enforcers and locals. By evening, the government imposed a strict curfew across Gopalganj district and deployed the BGB and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) to restore order.
Timeline of the Gopalganj conflagration
10:27 am: Police vehicle torched in Ulpur
Trouble first flared in the morning in Ulpur, a village under Gopalganj Sadar upazila, as a police vehicle was set ablaze and vandalised. Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Gopalganj Sadar Police Station, Mir Md Sajedur Rahman, confirmed the incident to BBC Bangla, alleging that activists from the banned Chhatra League, the student front of the day Awami League, were behind the attack.
"It was deliberate," said OC Rahman. "They were trying to sabotage the NCP's rally and send a message of fear."
OC Sajedur reiterated to the media that approximately 40 to 50 individuals had gathered and launched a direct assault on the police jeep, confirming that those involved were "Chhatra League boys." The motive, according to police, was to derail the rally organised by the NCP.
11:30 pm: UNO's car attacked in Kansur
Less than two hours later, Gopalganj Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Rakibul Hasan came under attack near the Kansur Bus Stand in Baultoli union. He confirmed to the press that supporters of the Awami League targeted his vehicle as he was returning from the earlier scene of the police vehicle fire.
"We were inspecting the area where a police vehicle had been torched earlier," said the UNO. "As we were returning, our convoy was attacked. Crude bombs had exploded before. Our driver was slightly injured."
A magistrate was also accompanying the UNO during the attack.
1:50 pm: NCP's rally stage attacked, crude bombs exploded
As the NCP prepared for its rally at the Gopalganj municipal park, unknown assailants launched an attack on the stage. Sound systems, microphones, chairs, and banners were vandalised, while crude bombs (cocktails) were exploded in full view of local journalists.
"Police stood still, watching," said one local reporter. "They didn't intervene."
NCP activists pushed back and retook control of the stage, turning it into a symbol of resistance. Chants like "Abu Sayed, Mugdha – the war isn't over yet" and "Direct action against Chhatra League" echoed across the park.
2:05 pm: NCP central leaders arrive
Amid the turmoil, top leaders of the NCP, including Convener Nahid Islam, Member-Secretary Akhtar Hossain, Sarjis Alam, and others, arrived at the rally venue. They began addressing the crowd, reiterating their commitment to peaceful resistance and justice for the martyrs of the July Uprising of 2024.
3:04 pm: NCP convoy attacked after rally
As the NCP leadership attempted to leave the rally venue, their 15-vehicle convoy came under heavy attack near the Launch Ghat area, close to Gopalganj Government College. Eyewitnesses said bricks, stones, and cocktails were hurled.
Police and RAB resorted to firing blank rounds and tear gas to scatter the assailants. But the situation proved too volatile.
The leaders were eventually escorted by police to the office of the Superintendent of Police, where they were held in protective custody, though NCP leaders described it as "forced confinement".
4:10 pm: NCP rally stage set on fire
Following the leaders' departure, miscreants returned to the rally site and set the main stage ablaze. Plastic chairs were brought onto the streets and torched, black smoke rising above the municipal park as a symbol of escalating chaos.
4:15 pm: Gopalganj turns into a battleground
Journalists described the town as a warzone. Entire neighbourhoods around the park and Launch Ghat were deserted. Shops and markets shut down, and vehicular movement came to a standstill. Law enforcers engaged in running battles with attackers, as chaos gripped the heart of Gopalganj.
5:37 pm: Government issues strong statement
The interim government condemned the attacks in a statement:
"The assault on peaceful citizens, journalists, and police by banned groups like Chhatra League will not go unpunished. Justice will be swift," it said, also praising the army and police for preventing further casualties.
6:30 pm: NCP leaders exit Gopalganj under military escort
NCP leaders left Gopalganj under tight security, escorted by military and police units. Around 15–16 vehicles carried top leadership, including Nahid Islam, Akhtar Hossain, and others, safely out of the conflict zone.
6:35 pm: 'Armed Chhatra League Firing on Protesters': NCP
In an interview with BBC Bangla, NCP's Akhtar Hossain claimed that Awami League and Chhatra League militants had opened fire on their supporters.
"They were firing guns. They were using mosque loudspeakers to rally more attackers," he said. "This is organised terror."
6:37 pm: Government imposes curfew
Following hours of clashes, the interim administration declared a full curfew in Gopalganj, effective from 8:00 PM Wednesday until 6:00 PM Thursday, banning all public gatherings.
7:00 pm: Four confirmed dead
Gopalganj 250-Bed General Hospital Superintendent Jibitesh Biswas confirmed to BBC Bangla that four bodies had been received, all showing signs of violent trauma.
"The number of injured is still unclear as many have come in for treatment," he added.
7:44 pm: 'We Used No Lethal Weapons'
Inspector General of Police Baharul Alam said, "We've tried to handle the situation with patience. We've refrained from using lethal weapons, which is why controlling the situation is taking longer."
As of Now
Gopalganj remains under curfew. The roads are quiet but tense. Opposition student groups have called for nationwide blockades on Thursday in response
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