Police barricades breached as AL holds procession with sticks, oars in Gopalganj
Awami League leaders and activists held a public protest march in Gopalganj district town. Photo: Agamir Somoy.
Leaders and activists of the banned Awami League and its affiliated organizations held a procession to show macho in Gopalganj district town, carrying sticks and oars.
Breaking through police barricades, they marched openly on various roads of the town from Sunday morning. The glass of a supermarket was vandalized. Tires were set on fire in several places. Panic spread across the town centering the program. Most shops and businesses remained closed.
A large number of members of law enforcement agencies, including police, BGB, and APBn, were deployed in the town to keep the situation under control.
Eyewitnesses said that after 11 am, hundreds of leaders and activists started arriving in the town from surrounding areas of the district headquarters and various unions by motorcycle, van, bus, and truck. Later, they gathered at the town's Shishu Park and BSCIC areas. Around noon, they began a procession with various slogans. The procession passed through the launch ghat, Women's College, and Shilpakala Academy areas. At one point, the marchers broke through police barricades and entered various roads of the town.
At that time, they raised various slogans in favor of Awami League President Sheikh Hasina and the party. A large number of leaders and activists, including many women, participated in the procession carrying sticks and oars. During this time, the glass of a supermarket named FNF in the town was vandalized. Tires were also set on fire at various places in the town.
Meanwhile, Gopalganj Government College has been renamed back to its previous name, Bangabandhu Government College, and the "Hadi Chattar" of Gopalganj Science and Technology University has been renamed "Joy Bangla" Chattar.
Unprecedented security measures were taken in the district town centering the program. Extra security was strengthened especially in front of the launch ghat, bazaar, and the Deputy Commissioner's office. Along with police, members of various law enforcement agencies including BGB, SRB, and APBn were deployed. Intelligence surveillance was also enhanced.
Around 1 pm, the marchers began to leave the town. By around 1:30 pm, the situation in the town started to normalize. Some shops and businesses began to reopen. Rickshaws and vans also started moving.
