Unruly mobs forcibly seized the bodies of four people killed in the violence that broke out in Gopalganj town centring an NCP rally on Wednesday, said police.
The bodies were taken away from the hospital around 7:30pm on Wednesday before post-mortems could be conducted, according to a police report on the incident published by the CA's Press Wing on social media on Thursday.
Stating that the situation is now normal, the report added that joint forces have so far arrested 20 people on charges of involvement in the carnage.
Currently, 1,507 personnel, including individuals from police, army and BGB, are deployed in Gopalganj district to maintain the overall law and order situation.
The statement added that law enforcement agencies and local administration were on alert since early on Wednesday morning to ensure security.
Army urges calm, says it had no choice but to use force
Through a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations on Thursday, the Bangladesh Army said, "When the army tried to stop the attackers by repeatedly making announcements on the microphone, they attacked the army and threw a number of cocktails and bricks. At one point the army was forced to use force in self-defence."
It added that the people of Gopalganj district have supported them by remaining patient throughout the spates of violence and chaos and commended law enforcers for their professionalism and patience.
The release also said the overall security situation in Gopalganj district is currently normal and a curfew is in effect.
The army also requested everyone to cooperate with the law enforcement agencies and avoid being misled by rumors or propaganda.
What did the police say?
"Around 9:30am, members of the banned organisation, Bangladesh Awami League, and its affiliated wings attacked on-duty police officers at Ulpur in Gopalganj Sadar and set their vehicles on fire. One police inspector and two other officers were injured during the incident."
At approximately 11:00am, at the Kansur Bus Stand on the Gopalganj-Tekerhat road, 40–50 activists reportedly aligned with the banned Chhatra League, led by Md Omar Faruk Khan Ripon, joint convener of its gopalganj municipality unit, blocked the road by felling trees and setting fire to wood. When the car of Gopalganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md Rakibul Hasan reached the spot, it was vandalised and the road remained obstructed.
At 11:30am, in the Abdar Haat area under Kotalipara Police Station, local Awami League activists led by Shamim Daria, general secretary of the Kotalipara upazila Chhatra League, brought out a procession and obstructed the Kotalipara–Poysar Haat road with felled trees and barricades.
An estimated 2,800–3,000 activists participated, the report stated.
Around 11:40am, before the NCP leadership could reach the venue for the rally, 50–60 armed attackers shouting "Joy Bangla", reportedly affiliated with the banned Chhatra League, launched an assault on the stage using crude bombs, shields, and local weapons.
The attackers vandalised banners and chairs on the stage. Despite the attack, at 2:01pm, Nahid Islam and other NCP central leaders ascended the stage to proceed with the rally.
At 2:15pm, two more crude bombs were detonated and two motorcycles set ablaze in the Satpara Bazar area of Gopalganj Sadar. Unruly activists blocked roads using logs. And they started fires at several locations.
"The rally concluded at 2:50pm, after which Nahid and other leaders left the venue. Approximately 200 people attended the programme. As their motorcade departed under police and military escort for the next rally in Madaripur, it was blocked near the Gopalganj Launch Terminal at around 3:00pm by Awami League supporters and members of its banned affiliated organisations. They used local weapons."
Despite efforts by the police and army to calm the crowd, the attackers began throwing stones and bricks and assaulted members of the police, army, and NCP using sharp and blunt weapons.
The attackers also attacked government establishments, including Gopalganj District Jail.
"Four individuals were killed and over 50 people, including 45 police officers and constables and several journalists were injured," the report added.
In response to the escalating violence, law enforcement and military personnel safely escorted NCP leaders to the office of the Gopalganj Superintendent of Police. At 4:58 PM, with the help of joint forces, the NCP leaders departed for Khulna via Bagerhat.
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