A political rally held by the National Citizens Party (NCP) in Gopalganj, Bangladesh, turned deadly on Wednesday after violent clashes broke out.
According to Dr. Jibitesh Biswas, superintendent of Gopalganj General Hospital, “four people have died and more than 15 others were injured.” He confirmed that “three of the injured are in critical condition and receiving treatment.”
Victims Identified by Authorities
As reported by The Dhaka Tribune, the four deceased have been identified.
-
Dipto Saha (25) – Son of Santosh Saha, resident of Udayan Road, Gopalganj town
-
Ramzan Kazi (18) – From Harinahat village in Kotalipara upazila
-
Sohel Rana (30) – Resident of Miyapara area in Gopalganj town
-
Imon (24) – From Bherarhat Bazar in Gopalganj Sadar upazila
These young men lost their lives during what was supposed to be a peaceful political demonstration.
Convoy Attacked in Hometown of Former PM
The violence erupted around 2:30 pm (local time) while the NCP convoy was returning after holding its rally in Gopalganj — the hometown of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
According to The Dhaka Tribune, the attack happened near the Gopalganj Government College, at the launch ghat area.
However, clashes had already started earlier, before the rally officially began at 1:30 pm. The main conflict broke out on the rally stage set up at the municipal park in Gopalganj town.
Emergency Curfew Enforced in Gopalganj
In response to the unrest, District Commissioner Md Kamruzzaman imposed Section 144 across the Gopalganj district. This legal provision bans public gatherings and was enforced from 8:00 pm on Wednesday until 6:00 pm the following day, as reported by The Daily Star.
Due to the curfew, several public examinations — including HSC, Alim, and HSC (Vocational) — were postponed. The notices of postponement were officially announced at 10:30 pm (local time) on Wednesday night.
NCP Alleges Attack Was a Targeted Attempt
While speaking at a press conference in Khulna, NCP Convener Nahid Islam strongly condemned the attack. He claimed that the incident was a deliberate assassination attempt against him.
“After concluding our rally in Gopalganj, we were heading towards Madaripur when armed goons of the Awami League attacked our motorcade,” Nahid stated.
He also demanded immediate action and the arrest of those responsible for the attack. The NCP plans to continue its protest campaign and will hold its next rally in Faridpur as part of a month-long program.
Nationwide Reaction and Condemnation
The attack has sparked strong criticism across political lines. The press wing of Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus called the assault “utterly indefensible” and stated it “will not go unpunished.”
Other political parties, including BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami, also condemned the violence. On the same day, NCP organized similar rallies in Chattogram, Noakhali, and other districts, voicing strong opposition to the attack.
