Gopalganj violence: Cases filed against 477 individuals

Authorities have filed a case under the Anti-Terrorism Act against 477 people, including 77 named individuals and 400 unidentified suspects, in connection with road obstruction during a National Citizen Party (NCP) rally. This brings the total number of cases related to the incident to 15.

Mir Md. Sajedur Rahman, Officer-in-Charge of Gopalganj Sadar Police Station, confirmed the filing of the case.

According to the OC, on July 16, during the NCP rally, protesters uprooted and placed trees to block the Gopalganj-Barisal regional highway in the Kathi area of Gopalganj Sadar Upazila. Following this, Sub-Inspector Md. Shafiqul Islam filed the case under the Anti-Terrorism Act, naming district Chhatra League President Newton Molla, General Secretary Ataur Rahman Pial, and 477 others as accused.

So far, a total of 15 cases have been registered, involving 16,208 accused individuals.

The clashes erupted during the NCP procession on July 16, when leaders and activists of the Awami League and the banned student wing Chhatra League reportedly launched attacks. The violence resulted in five deaths and left over a hundred injured, including journalists and law enforcement personnel.