Staff Correspondent:

Leaders of the National Citizen Party (NCP) departed for Dhaka under the protection of law enforcement on Wednesday afternoon following a series of violent attacks in Gopalganj earlier in the day.

An armoured personnel carrier (APC) of the Bangladesh Army escorted them on the way back to Dhaka.

According to reports, the NCP convoy came under attack around 2:30pm while leaving Gopalganj after holding a political rally. As their vehicles attempted to pass through the municipality park and launch terminal areas, supporters of the banned Chhatra League and Awami League began pelting stones at the convoy.

In response to the escalating situation, four platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) were deployed alongside the police and army to restore order. Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos as Gopalganj town, particularly the park and terminal area, descended into what resembled a battlefield.

Despite law enforcement firing blank rounds, rubber bullets, and tear gas, full control could not be re-established immediately. Protesters clashed with police, and several rally chairs were dragged into the street and set ablaze. Shops across the town were shuttered and traffic came to a standstill.

In protest of the attacks, the NCP’s affiliated youth wing, Jatiya Jubo Shakti, has announced a nationwide blockade programme.