NCP leaders, activists attacked in Gopalganj, section 144 imposed
A group of armed individuals carried out attacks on the leaders and activists of the National Citizen Party (NCP) as soon as the party ended their rally in Gopalganj.
The incident of attack tool place at the poura park at around 2:45pm on Wednesday.
An executive magistrate of the district administration told newsmen that Gopalganj deputy commissioner Md Kamruzzaman has imposed section 144 in the district.
Witnesses said a group of people armed with sticks and clubs encircled the NCP leaders and activists and carried out attack on them. They surrounded the NCP members and blocked police vehicles from all sides.
At that moment, members of the police and army fired sound grenades and blank shots in an attempt to bring the situation under control.
The NCP leaders and activists turned their vehicles and left the scene through a different route.
Later, NCP chief coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary complained to newspersons that Awami League leaders and activists carried out the attack.
He also alleged although the police and the army were present at the scene, they did not stop them.
The NCP leader claimed that they were told that everything was under control. However, upon reaching the venue, they realised that was not the case.
Earlier, around 1:45pm some 200-300 local Awami League supporters with sticks and clubs arrived at the venue of the CNP rally. The on-duty policemen were seen taking refuge in the nearby court premises when the attack began. The NCP leaders and activists who were at the venue also left the spot promptly.
NCP leaders and activists alleged that those, who carried out the attack, are the supporters of Awami League.
The NCP leaders claimed all those who attacked them were supporters of Awami League.
The attackers vandalised chairs on the stage and tore down banners. Shortly after, Gopalganj superintendent of police Md Mizanur Rahman arrived at the scene. NCP activists regrouped and, along with police, chased the attackers away.
At 2:05pm, central NCP leaders, including convenor Nahid Islam, member secretary Akhtar Hossain, chief organizer (south) Hasnat Abdullah, and chief organizer (north) Sarjis Alam, arrived at the rally venue. The NCP held the rally there. After the rally, the NCP leaders came under attack.
Since 1 July, NCP has been carrying out its ‘July March to Build the Nation’ programme. As part of the month-long campaign, the party has already organised events in several districts. Today, it was holding a march in Gopalganj. On Tuesday, the party announced this event on its verified Facebook page as the ‘16 July: March to Gopalganj’ programme.
Earlier in the day, around 9:30 am, a police vehicle was attacked and set on fire on the Ulpur-Durgapur road at Khatiyagarh Charpara in the Sadar upazila. Three police members were injured in the attack.
Upon receiving news of the incident, UNO Md Rakibul Hasan went to visit the area. A group of people attacked his vehicle at Kansur while he was returning to the office. The driver of his vehicle was injured in the incident.
Speaking to newspersons, UNO Rakibul Hasan said, “After learning of the untoward incident involving the police vehicle, I went to inspect the area. On the way back, when we reached Kansur, a group of people attacked our car. The driver, Mohammad Hamim, was injured.”