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The Anti-discrimination Student Movement has called a blockade programme throughout Bangladesh to protest the attack on the National Citizen Party’s activists in Gopalganj.
A post on the organisation’s Facebook page on Wednesday declared that it would conduct a blockade at “all important points” across the country in response to the attack.
The post called for all units of the organisation to join together with local student groups, political parties, and students and the public at all levels to conduct the programme.
Tensions had been brewing since Tuesday surrounding the NCP’s planned rally and march. The party had engaged in widespread promotion on social media in the lead-up to the event.
The violence erupted on Wednesday morning, even before NCP leaders could enter the city with their convoy. A police vehicle came under attack and was set on fire, followed shortly by an attack on the car of the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO).
Around 1:30pm, witnesses said, members of the banned Awami League and Bangladesh Chhatra League marched into the rally site at Poura Park in Gopalganj city chanting “Joy Bangla” and launched an assault on the stage where NCP leaders were gathered.
Following a brief rally, the NCP leaders began departing under police escort for Madaripur via Tekerhat. However, at around 2:45pm, the convoy was attacked again near the city’s launch terminal, in front of Gopalganj Government College.
This led to violent clashes between Awami League and Chhatra League activists on one side, and police and army personnel on the other, turning Gopalganj into a scene of intense street clashes.
In response to the escalating unrest, authorities imposed Section 144 across the district town, banning all gatherings and processions.