The Jamaat-controlled interim government successfully orchestrated a massacre of unarmed Awami League members and local people in Gopalganj by instigating the army and the police to use lethal weapons and kill dozens.
So far, there have been reports of 11 deaths, but the media could officially confirm four by Wednesday midnight. Over 50 people who were either shot or tortured were admitted to hospitals and clinics in the district town.
However, reports say hundreds of people injured in the firing by the army and police in Gopalganj are fighting for their lives. However, the government’s health advisor, Nurjahan Begum, has ordered officials concerned to stop medical services.
The government has ordered the supply of medical equipment, medicines, and emergency services to the hospitals in Gopalganj. As a result, many injured people are in danger of dying without treatment without receiving the necessary treatment.
Due to the curfew being imposed at 8pm, concrete information on the joint forcesโ operations in the town was not available.
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But social media posts and videos showed young people captured and beaten by groups of army personnel in undisclosed locations.
The Army has come under severe criticism for the excesses on camera and may come under the scrutiny of the United Nations. If they violate human rights during the raids, the consequences will be severe, experts say.
For the last few days, the NCP leaders and supporters had been threatening on Facebook 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 on Wednesday.
NCP Convener Nahid Islam, and its top leaders Md Sarjis Alam and Tasnim Jara, posted on Facebook about โMarch to Gopalganjโ on Wednesday, whereas their ongoing programme is called a countrywide march to drum up support for the party, being patronised by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus.
Politicians and journalists say the programme name was chosen similarly to how they had done it on August 5 to attack Ganabhaban and assassinate Sheikh Hasina and her sister, Sheikh Rehana. They also said members of Jamaat-Shibir were seen on the dais of the NCP rally and during the attack on the protesters.
After their rally began at the Municipality Park ground around 2pm, some of the NCP leaders threatened to destroy the stronghold of the Awami League.
On Wednesday night, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader announced protests and demonstrations for Thursday and asked party workers to prepare for the โLong March to Jamuna.โ
He said the people from all walks of life in Gopalganj were united and raised their voices against the terrorists and militant groups linked to the NCP and Jamaat-e-Islami, who wanted to destroy the mausoleum of Bangabandhu.
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โIn the days leading up to todayโs events in Gopalganj, NCPโs deceptive elements were making provocative statements and showing aggressive intentions.
โWhen this conspiracy was revealed, the people of Gopalganj, driven by their deep love for Bangabandhu, took to the streets and mounted resistance.โ
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