A tense atmosphere prevailed in Gopalganj district town on Sunday after leaders and activists of the Awami League and its affiliated organisations staged an open procession to press for the success of a lockdown programme scheduled for 19 November.
From around 11 a.m., hundreds of leaders and activists entered the district town from various areas on motorcycles, vans, and trucks, many carrying local weapons.
They first gathered at the Children’s Park and BSCIC area before assembling around noon and taking out a procession from the BSCIC Bridge. Chanting slogans, the procession passed through the Launch Ghat, Women’s College, and Shilpakala Academy areas.
At one point, the protesters broke through a police barricade and entered various roads in the town. Thousands of participants, many carrying sticks and poles (lagi-baitha), chanted slogans in support of banned Awami League president Sheikh Hasina.
In response, authorities intensified security across the district town. Six platoons of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) were deployed to maintain normalcy and ensure public safety.
During the Yunus-led interim government, the Bangladesh Army and police shot dead five people when they protested provocative remarks by the leaders of National Citizen (NCP) during a rally on July 16, 2025. The NCP declared the march to Gopalganj with the view to demolish the grave of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Tungipara.
According to a press release issued by BGB headquarters, the force will work in coordination with other law enforcement agencies under the guidance of the District Magistrate.
Additional personnel from the police, Special Response Battalion (SRB), Armed Police Battalion (APBn), and other agencies were also stationed at key points, particularly around the Launch Ghat and market areas, while intelligence surveillance was stepped up. No visible attempt by police to stop the procession was reported, though law enforcement personnel remained on high alert.
The situation was further heightened by overnight violence in Tungipara upazila. On the night of Saturday (14 November), leaders and activists of the banned Awami League and its allied groups allegedly carried out vandalism and arson at two BNP and Jubo Dal offices. In Nilfa Bazar, a procession chanting “Joy Bangla” and “Joy Bangabandhu” attacked and set fire to a BNP office. In a separate incident at Barni Bazar, another procession vandalised a Jubo Dal office. Panic spread in the area, forcing local shops to shut.
Gopalganj District BNP Convener Sharif Rafiquzzaman alleged that leaders and activists of the banned Awami League and its affiliated organisations were behind the attacks.
Tungipara Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md. Ayub Ali, however, said he had not yet been informed of the incidents and that police were looking into the matter.