Hundreds of party activists gather in the district town, break police barricades and set tyres on fire.
Police equipped with helmets, tactical vests, batons, and riot shields stands in formation in Gopalganj. Photo: Courtesy
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Police equipped with helmets, tactical vests, batons, and riot shields stands in formation in Gopalganj. Photo: Courtesy
Hundreds of activists of the banned Awami League and its affiliated organisations staged a mass procession in Gopalganj district town today (15 November), breaking police barricades, setting tyres on fire and allegedly vandalising a supershop.
According to local residents, party activists began arriving in the town from surrounding areas and different unions around 11am, travelling on motorcycles, vans, buses and trucks.
Around noon, they gathered near the town’s Shishu Park and the BSCIC area before marching through different parts of the town, chanting slogans in support of ousted Awami League leader Sheikh Hasina and the party.
The procession passed through the Launch Ghat, Women’s College and Shilpakala Academy areas. Participants then broke through police barricades and entered several roads across the town.
Many demonstrators were reportedly carrying traditional oars and bamboo poles, locally known as logi-baitha. A significant number of women activists also took part in the procession.
During the demonstration, protesters allegedly vandalised the glass frontage of FNF, a supershop, and set tyres on fire at several locations across the town.
The activists remained on the streets until around 1pm before gradually dispersing. By around 1:30pm, most demonstrators had returned to their respective locations.
Meanwhile, Gopalganj Government College was renamed Bangabandhu Government College, restoring its previous name. The Hadi Chattar at Gopalganj Science and Technology University was also renamed Joy Bangla Chattar, its former name.
Several attempts to contact the authorities concerned for comment went unanswered.
Authorities maintained a heavy security presence across the district town ahead of the programme.
Police, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Special Response Battalion (SRB), Armed Police Battalion (APBN) and other law enforcement agencies were deployed in large numbers, particularly around Launch Ghat, the market area and the Deputy Commissioner’s office.
Intelligence surveillance was also intensified to monitor the situation.
The situation began returning to normal around 1:30pm as demonstrators left the town. Some shops reopened, while rickshaws and vans resumed movement.
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