At least four people were killed and many others feared dead in Gopalganj on Wednesday, after the army and the police fired bullets at the members of the Awami League and its affiliated organisations upon order of the Jamaat-controlled interim government.
Videos of army personnel using lethal weapons against the protesters and brutally torturing activists on the streets have gone viral on social media, with the mainstream media suppressing death counts.
However, instead of doing neutral journalism, all top media outlets blamed the activists of the Awami League and Chhatra League in the tune of the Yunus-led government, with the headlines justifying the brutal treatment, instead of highlighting the casualties.
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Reports say the violence began after the National Citizen Party (NCP) ended their rally at the Municipality Park, when the army and the police members were frantically working to protect the party leaders and indiscriminately shooting at the protesters.
The NCP leaders left the town in armoured vehicles.
Later, the government declared a curfew in the district town from 8pm to 6pm on Thursday. In a statement issued by the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing, the government said that the attack on the NCP rally was a “heinous act” and that the perpetrators will not go unpunished.
How the situation turned intense
Earlier, the NCP convoy of around 20 microbuses entered the city around noon under police escort as the Awami League activists blocked some of the roads since morning. At that time, the police opened fire at the people, resulting in a chase and counter-chase.
A police vehicle was burned, and another vehicle carrying a UNO was vandalised.
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For the last few days, the NCP leaders and supporters had been threatening a severe assault on the Awami League and the mausoleum of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in Tungipara, around 19km from the Gopalganj district town, during their rally.
The Awami League supporters took to the streets in the morning, which coincides with the partyโs prescheduled programme, demanding the resignation of the unconstitutional interim government and stopping the illegal trials at the International Crimes Tribunal.
Earlier, the NCP leaders masterminded the demolition and arson attack on the Dhanmondi-32 residence of Bangabandhu on August 5, August 15, and February 5, when a large number of members from Jamaat-Shibir and radical Islamist parties took part.
Moreover, over 2,000 sculptures, murals and museums related to the 1971 Liberation War and the Father of the Nation were destroyed by the extremists who have been enjoying impunity under the governmentโs patronisation.
Death count
Gopalganj General Hospital received around 50 bullet-injured bodies since the afternoon, and as of 7pm, the doctors confirmed four deaths.
Of them, three were identified as Ramzan Kazi, 18, from Kotalipara; Emon, 24, of Sadar Upazila; Dipto Saha, 25, a Chhatra League activist of the town; and Sohel Molla, 41, of Tungipara.
Superintendent Jibitesh Biswas of Gopalganj General Hospital confirmed that the two individuals arrived dead. They were shot, he added.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Baharul Alam claimed that they tried to handle the situation in Gopalganj patiently. โWe did not use any lethal weapons in Gopalganj, so it took us a while,โ he told BBC Bangla.
Baharul said: โWe are trying to quell the unrest as much as possible with patience. Now, more police personnel are being sent to bring the whole thing under control.โ
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