Activities-banned Awami League wreaks havoc in Gopalganj

Members of the activities-banned Awami League and its affiliated groups staged armed demonstrations across Gopalganj on Sunday, vandalising a July Uprising monument, police facilities and businesses while torching properties linked to opposition figures.

Protests have been raging in the district, ancestral home of Awami League supremo Sheikh Hasina, for the past couple of days despite strong security presence, as government adopts a wait-and-watch approach for the time being before resorting to forceful response.

If violence continues for an extended period or expands, the government would respond accordingly in line with legal provisions, sources at the home minister have told reporters.

Around 11am on Sunday, protesters aligned with Awami League launched a procession, brandishing machetes, sharp local weapons, and sticks.

The procession marched through Gopalganj town till 1:30pm as protesters burnt tires at key intersections and unlocked the district Awami League office, overturning government restrictions. Demonstrators also shattered glass at the July Memorial and FNF Super Shop in the Launchghat area.

They also defaced the nameplate of Gopalganj Government College, replacing it with a banner reading "Government Bangabandhu College," reversing a name change made after the fall of the Awami League government.

At Gopalganj Science and Technology University, protesters removed a banner at Hadi Chattar and replaced it with one reading "Muktijoddha Chattar."

The marches proceeded despite deployments of police, the Armed Police Battalion, Ansar, and patrols by the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB).

Later at 4pm, members of the banned Bangladesh Chhatra League, joined by Awami League, Jubo League, and Swechchhasebak League activists, held a separate protest in Tungipara. During the march, protesters attacked, vandalised, and set fire to three businesses owned by Bangladesh Nationalist Party-affiliated merchants, a Jubo Dal leader's office, and the residence of Swechchhasebak Dal leader Jasim.

Citing intelligence, Home Ministry sources say local Awami League activists are being “instigated from abroad.”

The party members from other districts have recently converged on Gopalganj amid fears of potential attacks on government installations, sources said.

To maintain order and public safety, the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) deployed three additional platoons to Gopalganj on Sunday, bringing the total to six platoons following an initial three-platoon deployment on 10 November. Authorities have also brought in police reinforcements from neighbouring districts.

At a press briefing on Sunday, Dhaka Range Deputy Inspector General Mustafizur Rahman said 1,350 police personnel were deployed across the district, including mobile patrols and striking forces along 67 kilometers of national highways and at key government installations.

BGB Jashore Region Commander Brigadier General Mahmudul Hasan said six platoons—roughly 150 border guards—were deployed under Home Ministry directives to coordinate with law enforcement and maintain public order.