Daijiworld Media Network- Dhaka
Dhaka, July 17: In a fresh wave of political unrest, at least four people were killed and several others sustained injuries in violent clashes between Bangladeshi security forces and supporters of ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday. The unrest unfolded in Gopalganj district—Hasina's ancestral hometown and stronghold of the banned Awami League party.
According to reports from local media and hospital sources, violence broke out early in the day as Awami League loyalists, along with members of the student-led National Citizen Party, began a planned march towards Gopalganj. Tensions soared as participants were met with resistance from security personnel, leading to widespread arson and street battles.
Security forces resorted to baton charges and tear gas as demonstrators retaliated with sticks and firebombs. Several vehicles were torched, and clashes soon spread across the district. In a dramatic turn of events, leaders of the National Citizen Party sought refuge at the local police chief's office and were later escorted by military personnel to a nearby district under tight security.
Jibitesh Biswas, a senior official from a state-run hospital, confirmed that three bodies were received by the facility, while The Daily Star reported four fatalities. Dozens more were injured in the mayhem.
Reacting sharply to the incident, the interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, condemned the attacks and warned of strict action against those responsible. “The assault on the student activists is utterly indefensible. The perpetrators will not go unpunished,” read a statement issued by the interim administration.
The Awami League, banned by the authorities in May, released a series of posts on social media platform X, denouncing the crackdown and accusing the government of using state machinery to silence dissent. “This is a blatant misuse of power and an attempt to suppress voices of democracy,” the party’s post read.
Nahid Islam, a prominent student leader from the National Citizen Party, issued a 24-hour ultimatum demanding the arrest of those behind the violence. He also hinted at a fresh protest march in neighboring Faridpur district on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the country’s right-wing factions have called for a nationwide protest across all major cities and districts, condemning what they term as a state-sponsored attack on political activism.
Since Sheikh Hasina’s ouster 11 months ago, Bangladesh has been mired in political uncertainty and mob-led chaos. Interim Prime Minister Muhammad Yunus, who assumed power following Hasina’s exile to India, had promised a return to democratic order, with fresh elections slated for April next year.
However, deepening divisions, rising violence, and Hasina's pending extradition over alleged crimes against humanity have cast shadows over the nation’s political future. India has yet to respond to Bangladesh's request for her extradition.
Gopalganj remains a symbolic and emotional heartland for the Awami League, as it houses the mausoleum of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Bangladesh’s founding father and Hasina’s father, who was assassinated in 1975 during a military coup.
The National Citizen Party has launched a “July March to Rebuild the Nation,” aiming to present itself as a new political force amid the crumbling dominance of Hasina’s Awami League and Khaleda Zia’s BNP. Notably, the BNP remained largely silent on Wednesday’s violence.
As the country awaits clarity, concerns are mounting over whether Bangladesh can steer itself toward peaceful democratic transition, or if it will continue to descend into deeper turmoil.