Ban of Jatiya Party: Gono Odhikar Parishad holds countrywide protest

Staff Reporter :

Following violent attacks on the leaders and activists of Gono Odhikar Parishad, including its President Nurul Haque Nur, who is now under medical treatment, the party staged nationwide protests, processions, and road blockades.

From their programmes, they demanded a ban on the Jatiya Party (JaPa), alleging that the party was responsible for Friday’s attacks on their leaders and activists in front of the Jatiya Party’s office at Bijoynagar in the capital.

The clashes left several Gono Odhikar Parishad leaders and workers injured, along with law enforcement members and even army personnel who were deployed later.

On Saturday, during protest events, several Jatiya Party offices were set on fire and vandalised in Dhaka as well as in other districts including Rajshahi and Mymensingh.

The most violent clash erupted at Bijoynagar when the Jatiya Party office was attacked, vandalised, and set on fire. Police used sound grenades, water cannons, and baton charges to disperse the protesters.

The incident began shortly after 6:15 pm, when members of Gono Odhikar Parishad and Islami Andolon Bangladesh gathered near the JaPa office.

Tension escalated when the two groups, marching from different directions, converged in front of the office. After about 15 minutes of standoff, Gono Odhikar leaders ordered their supporters to withdraw.

Moments later, a group of unidentified individuals began hurling bricks at the office from behind, causing heavy damage. They then stormed the office, set furniture on fire, and threw it outside to burn.

Police responded with water cannons and batons, while firefighters tried to control the flames. The situation remained tense until around 6:40pm.

Earlier in the day, Gono Odhikar leaders and activists had staged a demonstration in Purana Paltan near their central office to protest the attack on Nurul Haque Nur.

Party General Secretary Rashed Khan pressed home three demands: resignation of the Home Affairs Adviser, holding him responsible for failing to prevent the attack; formation of a government probe committee to investigate the attack on Nur and banning of Jatiya Party within 48 hours.

At the Bijoynagar rally, leaders of the National Citizen Party (NCP) and the AB Party also expressed solidarity. Afterward, protesters staged a demonstration in the Paltan area.

“A new revolution has begun,” declared Ariful Islam, convener of the July Mancha. Speaking at a protest rally, he warned that the Jatiya Party office would be the “first target” of this revolution. “The revolution hasn’t ended yet,” he added.

Later at night, Gono Odhikar activists held a torchlight rally at 9:30 PM in front of the JaPa office, claiming that law enforcers beat their supporters.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) confirmed that army personnel were deployed at the request of police to control the violence. Five army members were reportedly injured.

The attack on Nur drew condemnation from other political parties including the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami. Students and members of Gono Odhikar Parishad also staged protests across Dhaka and Chattogram.
July Mancha protesters marched with banners reading: “Hulya march against enemies of Bangladesh’s sovereignty, including Jatiya Party.”

Ariful accused the Jatiya Party of collaborating with the ousted Awami League and warned: “The July fighters will not allow Bangladesh to become like Kashmir. If the interim government is not dissolved and a revolutionary national government is not formed, the fighters will return to the streets.”

Protesting the incident, Dhaka University students staged a rally against the attack on Nur, parading streets and rallying at the foot of the Raju sculpture, where they demanded a ban on Jatiya Party.

Bin Yamin Molla, President of Bangladesh Chhatra Odhikar Parishad, declared: “Jatiya Party is the accomplice of Awami League – do you have any disagreement about this? Perhaps advisers will disagree, which is why they are not banning Jatiya Party. The way Nur was beaten shows this was a planned attack.”

Protest programmes spread nationwide-including Rajshahi, Chattogram, Tangail, Gaibandha, Sirajganj, Nilphamari, Barishal, Patuakhali, Mymensingh, and Cumilla.

Patuakhali: In Nurul Haque’s home district of Patuakhali, demonstrations and rallies were held in Galachipa upazila and his own village. Torch processions and protests had already taken place in these three locations the previous night around 11 PM.

Mymensingh: Protesters stormed and vandalised the local Jatiya Party (JaPa) office following a rally led by GOP joint general secretary Md. Ziaur Rahman. In Rajshahi, GOP activists went further-attacking and torching both the district and city offices of JaPa near Gonokpara.

Narayanganj: Demonstrators staged a torchlight procession, set fire to sections of the road, and briefly halted traffic as they demanded justice for Nurul Haque and other GOP leaders. Kushtia witnessed tyre-burning protests and rallies denouncing the attack, while in Patuakhali, marches and gatherings were organised in Nurul Haque’s native village of Charbishash.

Sirajganj: Gono Odhikar leaders and activists marched from the Jamuna Bridge West Link Road Roundabout toward Saydabad in the morning.
During the march, they blocked the northbound lane of the highway for about 10-15 minutes, setting tyres on fire.

They later ended with a short rally at Saydabad, warning that unless the attackers are brought to justice, harsher programmes will follow.

Nilphamari: At noon, a protest rally was held at Chourangi intersection in Nilphamari, organised by the district unit of Gono Odhikar Parishad. NCP leaders joined in solidarity. A march began from their office at Boro Bazar, moving through town streets before ending at the rally.

Cumilla: Around 12 PM in Kotbari, Gono Odhikar activists blocked both lanes of the Dhaka-Chattogram highway, lighting tyres on fire. Traffic was suspended in both directions, creating heavy gridlock. After about 30 minutes, protesters dispersed, and vehicles began moving again around 1 PM.

Barishal: In front of Ashwini Kumar Hall, Barishal district and city units of Gono Odhikar Parishad and NCP held a rally, followed by a march through the city. Leaders blamed JaPa, the army, and police for the attacks and demanded the dissolution of the interim government, resignation of the Home Adviser, and formation of a national government.

Tangail: Gono Odhikar activists vandalised the district JaPa office before blocking the Dhaka-Tangail-Jamuna Bridge highway.

Gaibandha: Leaders accused police of obstructing their peaceful protest, claiming that the government was violating their democratic rights. Gaibandha Sadar police chief Shahinur Rahman said protesters were blocked to avoid chaos.