Fourteen individuals have been detained in Gopalganj, the birthplace of Bangladesh’s founder Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, following violent clashes that claimed four lives, The Daily Star reported. The unrest, which prompted a 22-hour curfew, erupted during a rally organized by the National Citizen Party (NCP) on Wednesday.
The NCP, a student-led group formed in February with ties to the Students against Discrimination movement, faced fierce opposition from supporters of deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina, Rahman’s daughter. The confrontation turned Gopalganj into a battleground, with protesters wielding bamboo sticks and brickbats clashing against police, army, and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) forces. Authorities fired gunshots to control the chaos, which saw vehicles vandalized, including those of police and local officials.
Abdullah Al Mamun, inspector at Gopalganj Sadar Police Station, confirmed the arrests, stating, “Joint forces handed over the 14 individuals to us.” Legal proceedings are underway. Nearly 200 BGB soldiers were deployed to restore order.
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The NCP rally, led by convenor Nahid Islam, proceeded despite damaged infrastructure, including broken sound systems. Islam vowed to seek justice if law enforcement fails to act. The interim government, led by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, condemned the violence, promising accountability.
The clashes follow earlier unrest in February, when protesters torched Rahman’s former residence in Dhaka’s Dhanmondi, now a memorial. Hasina, 77, has been in India since fleeing Bangladesh on August 5, 2024, after a student-led uprising ended her Awami League’s 16-year rule.
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