Banned Chhatra League’s Nationwide Strike Turns Gopalganj into a Battleground, BGB Deployed

Clashes, road blockades and arson broke out in Gopalganj Sadar, Tungipara, Kashiani and other places over a countrywide strike called by the banned Chhatra League. The two sides clashed again and again. Police fired tear gas and rubber bullets to bring the situation under control. A tense calm now hangs over the district, and six platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have been deployed for security.

Tension spread from the morning on Tuesday (10 November) at Gawharanga Chowrangi Mor, Patgati bus stand and Tungipara Mor in Tungipara. In the morning, a large number of activists of the banned Chhatra League came out on the roads with sticks, oars and local weapons. They burned tyres and held a protest. Later, leaders and activists of the Awami League, Jubo League and other affiliated bodies, whose activities are banned, joined them in a huge procession.

At about 11:30 am, police stopped the procession when it reached the Patgati stand area. The protesters became angry and threw bricks and stones at the police, and the two sides chased each other. During the clash, an angry crowd set a police pickup van on fire and vandalised the office of the upazila Jubodal. Police fired tear shells and rubber bullets to control the situation. At least 50 people, including police members, were injured in the clashes that went on all day.

Meanwhile, pickets blocked the main road at the BSCIC Bridge area of Gopalganj town and set tyres on fire. When police reached the spot, the two sides chased each other. Later, activists gathered at the Gol Chattar area and set fire again after pouring petrol. After this, shops and traffic in the town came to a halt. The situation eased a little when Mr. Shah Newaz Khan, a former joint general secretary of the district Chhatra League, gave an ultimatum to stop police harassment and left the spot.

Earlier, three vehicles were set on fire at the Pourashava Shishu Park area of the town. At Sonakur in Gopalganj Sadar upazila on the Dhaka Khulna highway, blockaders put tree trunks on the road and set them on fire after pouring petrol. Protesters also burned tyres and vandalised vehicles at the Kalna Madhumati Bridge toll plaza in Kashiani upazila, between Pona and Majra, and at Gopalpur in Orakandi Union. More than 100 vehicles were stuck on both sides of the Dhaka Khulna highway, which caused great suffering. There were also reports of a fire and protest late at night at Maheshpur railway station in Kashiani.

Fear spread in the district town and several upazilas from Monday night. Crude bomb blasts took place at a few places, including the gates of the District School, the Government Women’s College, the Passport Office and the Government Technical School and College in the town.

Mr. Md. Habibullah, Superintendent of Police of Gopalganj, said extra police and members of other forces have been deployed at Tungipara and other risky places to keep law and order under control. Police have arrested eight people so far on charges of involvement in Monday night’s acts of sabotage. They also seized seven motorcycles and recovered 15 unexploded crude bombs from the spots.

Mr. Md. Arif Uz Zaman, Deputy Commissioner of Gopalganj, said six platoons of BGB have been deployed across the district to bring the law and order situation under control and restore normalcy. The law enforcement forces are now on alert at the key points.