Section-144 in Gopalganj Sadar as tension escalates

Deputy Commissioner of the district Muhammad Kamruzzaman enforced Section-144 but did not set any timeframe for it.

Alongside the police, Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) and army personnel, four platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have been deployed in the Sadar headquarters to avoid further untoward incidents, said Md Shariful Islam, public relations officer of the BGB Headquarters.

UNB’s district correspondent reports that supporters of the AL, BCL and other associate bodies, equipped with sticks and brickbats took positions at different streets and lanes, prompting Rab, army and BGB teams to intensify their patrol in the city.

A tense situation was prevailing in the city as chase and counter-chase continued between the law enforcers and the AL supporters.

Earlier in the morning, a number of people, including police personnel, were injured in an attack carried out by activists of AL and banned BCL to foil NCP’s programme in the district.

“As part of NCP’s July march, there is a scheduled march and a meeting in the municipal park of Gopalganj today. To disrupt their programme, Awami League and Chhatra League activists initially attacked the police and later attacked and vandalized my car convoy,” said Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer M Rakibul Hasan.

Amid the escalating tension, around 2pm, NCP's convenor Nahid Islam, southern region organizer Hasnat Abdullah, northern region organizer Sarjis Alam, leader Dr. Tasnim Jara, along with central leaders, arrived at the rally site in the municipal park area of the city.

The local party leaders and activists welcomed them with the slogan 'Inquilab Zindabad'.

Around 3pm, after the July march the activists of the banned BCL attacked the vehicle convoy of the NCP while returning to Madaripur.

Earlier around 1:35pm, the banned Chhatra League men attacked the stage of the rally in the municipal park area, reports UNB.