By Sheikh Abdullah
Gopalganj, BangladeshโJuly 16, 2025. What should have been a peaceful, so-called student-led rally by the National Citizen Party (NCP) in Gopalganj turned into a bloodbath when the Bangladesh Army opened fire on unarmed civilians, resulting in the confirmed deaths of at least 5 people and many more unknown. Eyewitness accounts and reports from local and international human rights bodies reveal a chilling reality: this was not crowd control. This was state-sponsored violence.
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The town of Gopalganj, revered as the birthplace of Bangladeshโs founding father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, witnessed the deployment of military-grade weaponry, live ammunition, and a coordinated attack that many now label as an organised massacre. According to the International Crimes Research Foundation (ICRF), the armyโs action was not reactive but premeditated. In a formal letter to the United Nations Ethical Office, ICRF categorised the operation as a genocidal assault, targeting political dissenters under the pretence of maintaining order.
What really happened in Gopalganj?
Around 1:30 PM on July 16, citizens of Gopalganj began gathering peacefully near Gopalganj Government College to express their discontent and condemnation against the illegal activities and rising terrorism allegedly linked to the unregistered political group, the NCP. Eyewitnesses confirmed that the protesters were unarmed and posed no threatโno one was seen carrying any weapons. Despite the peaceful nature of the demonstration, the Bangladesh Army was deployed, not to protect the citizens, but to suppress them with brute force.
Reports indicate the army fired live bullets into crowds, killing dozens and injuring many more. Civilians fleeing the area were also pursued and beaten. Disturbingly, no postmortem reports were filed for the dead, and many bodies were buried overnight under tight military watch, possibly to erase forensic evidence.
This was not an isolated clash. This was a state-endorsed slaughter, and the responsibility rests squarely with two figures:
1. General Waker-Uz-Zaman, Chief of Bangladesh Army.
2. Dr. Muhammad Yunus, head of the unelected interim government.
The role of the army chief
Under international law, the use of military force against unarmed civilians during internal protests is a gross violation of human rights. Yet, General Waker-Uz-Zamanโthe highest-ranking military officer in the countryโallowed, and possibly ordered, live-fire engagement on Bangladeshi citizens. His silence following the massacre is as deafening as the gunshots that took 24 lives.
The international community, especially the United Nations Human Rights Council, must hold General Waker accountable for command responsibility under the Geneva Conventions and the Rome Statute.
Dr. Muhammad Yunus: The civilian face of repression
While Yunus may appear to be a Nobel laureate advocating for peace, in reality, he now presides over a regime more oppressive than any democratic government in Bangladeshโs history. It was under his administration that the military was given a free hand to crush dissent.
Instead of launching an independent investigation, Dr. Yunus attempted to shift blame onto the protesters, falsely accusing the NCP of attempting to desecrate Mujib’s grave. His public statements reflect a regime desperately seeking moral cover for an unforgivable atrocity.
Let us not forget that Dr. Yunus has also been accused of abusing his international connections with silence, opposition, and influence on narratives abroad. This incident lays bare the hypocrisy of his so-called humanitarian legacy.
Heritage desecration & political suppression
Ironically, while the interim government accuses the NCP of attacking a symbolic heritage site, it is the Bangladesh Army that desecrated Gopalganjโs dignity by shedding blood on the soil of its most sacred political ground. The very sanctity of Mujibโs legacy has been defiled, not by opposition youth, but by the gunfire of those sworn to protect it.
Call for international inquiry
Given the scale and brutality of this event, any internal inquiry under the current government will be a sham. The International Crimes Research Foundation (ICRF) has already taken the matter to the UN, and it is imperative that a full-scale international investigation be launched.
The world must not turn a blind eye to this atrocity. The Gopalganj massacre is not just a national tragedyโit is a human rights crisis that demands justice, accountability, and immediate action.
Additional context and emerging evidence
It is important to note that the National Citizen Party (NCP) is not a registered political party in Bangladesh. Despite its lack of official status, many are referring to it as the ‘Kingโs Party,’ allegedly founded and backed by Dr. Muhammad Yunus. This unofficial group is reportedly enjoying state protection and favour, raising serious concerns about the government’s impartiality and democratic integrity.
In a viral video circulating on social media, a Bangladesh Army officer is clearly heard shouting, “Fire, direct fire, again direct fire!”โsuggesting premeditated and intentional use of lethal force against civilians.
Despite the mass casualties among civilians, there have been no confirmed reports of injuries to any member of the Bangladesh Army, police, or even NCP activists. Furthermore, no credible source has confirmed that the army was attacked by protesters using any weapons or objects. This significantly challenges the narrative of the state and justifies public demand for justice.
Many on social media have labelled those killed as Awami League activists. However, this is not entirely true. Eyewitnesses and local reports confirm that several of the deceased were ordinary citizens, not involved in any political activity.
A serious allegation has also surfaced against several high-ranking advisors: Asif Mahmud Bhuiyan Sajib (Advisor for LGRD and Adviser for Youth and Sports), Asif Nazrul (Law Advisor), and Jahangir Alam Choudhury (Advisor for Home Affairs). All three were allegedly observing and monitoring the Gopalganj crackdown live from a police control room. Asif Mahmud posted on his verified Facebook page:
Curfew imposed in Gopalganj amid escalating tensions
Curfew has been imposed in Gopalganj. Unless it’s a matter of life and death, no ordinary citizen should leave home. The number of law enforcement personnel has increased. The terrorists of the banned organisation will be crushed. Everything is being monitored from the police control room, and necessary instructions are being given by the Home Advisor, Youth and Sports Advisor, and the heads of the law enforcement agencies.โ
This declaration of a curfew, combined with a shoot-on-sight policy, reflects a disturbing abuse of power and intentional militarisation of civil unrest. It has also become evident that the government is using the Bangladesh Army as a personal bodyguard force for the so-called Kingโs PartyโNCPโa move that undermines the apolitical and professional nature of the military institution.
Final words
At least 24 lives were lost. Hundreds were injured. An entire nation has been shaken. And yet, the architects of this carnage remain free, emboldened, and silent.
If the United Nations, human rights defenders, and democratic nations around the world truly stand for freedom, peace, and justice, they must take action now. Because silence in the face of genocide is complicity.
Sheikh Abdullah: Political Analyst & Former Student Leader.
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