Gopalganj unrest: 45 arrested so far in special drive

Law enforcement authorities have arrested 20 more individuals in connection with the violent clashes involving Awami League and Chhatra League activists during the NCP rally in Gopalganj Sadar upazila on Wednesday. This brings the total number of arrests to 45, said Sajedur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Gopalganj Sadar police station, on Friday.

Rahman stated that various security forces detained the suspects across different parts of the district from Thursday morning until Friday morning and handed them over to Gopalganj Sadar police.

The curfew has kept the streets nearly empty, with residents advised to stay indoors except for emergencies. Businesses remain closed, and vehicle movement is minimal.

Security personnel, including the army and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), continue to patrol the district to enforce law and order during the curfew.

On Wednesday, over 50 people—including police officers—were injured in clashes between Awami League, Chhatra League activists, and law enforcement over the NCP’s planned rally. Four people—Sohel Mollah, Dipto Saha, Imon Talukdar, and Ramjan Kazi—were declared dead that night. Another individual, 28-year-old Ramzan Munshi, succumbed to his injuries on Friday.

In response to the unrest, Section 144 was imposed in Sadar upazila, followed by a 22-hour curfew beginning at 8 pm on Wednesday. The government extended the curfew indefinitely, with a three-hour relaxation from 11 am to 2 pm daily.

According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the curfew remained in effect from 6 pm Thursday until 11 am Friday and will resume from 2 pm onward until further notice.

The government has also formed a three-member committee to investigate the incidents resulting in loss of lives and property damage.