Staff Reporter :
The National Citizen Party’s (NCP) planned “March to Gopalganj” on 16 July descended into widespread violence, allegedly masterminded by Saddam Hossain, the fugitive president of the outlawed Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL)-the banned student wing of the former ruling Awami League.
According to multiple sources, the attacks were part of a premeditated operation led by Hossain from exile, with the objective of halting the opposition rally and preventing NCP leaders from reaching Gopalganj. The violence reportedly aimed not just to disrupt the event but to physically target senior members of the NCP leadership.
Witnesses and party insiders claim that Awami League activists, in coordination with affiliated organisations, carried out a large-scale blockade to thwart the rally. Some NCP figures were allegedly marked for assassination, raising serious questions about politically motivated violence.
Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, currently residing in India following her ouster by a mass uprising, has also been implicated in directing the suppression of the NCP’s movement. Leaked audio recordings, reportedly verified by independent media outlets, allegedly feature Hasina giving explicit instructions to party loyalists to stop the rally-particularly near the grave of her father in Tungipara.
In one such recording, Hasina is heard addressing Ataur Rahman Pial, the banned general secretary of the Gopalganj Chhatra League district unit:
“They [NCP] are heading to Gopalganj. They say they’ll vandalise my father’s grave at Tungipara after destroying House 32. Why are you sitting idle? Do whatever it takes to stop them. Not a single one should be allowed to enter or leave Gopalganj alive.”
In another clip, she is allegedly heard instructing Newton Molla, the banned Chhatra League district president:
“They’re gathering supporters from Pirojpur, Bagerhat, Khulna, and Faridpur. Block them at any cost. If they reach Tungipara, ensure none returns.”
On the day of the rally, NCP’s motorcade reportedly came under sustained attack involving gunfire and crude explosives, targeting top leaders en route to Gopalganj. Earlier that morning, activists allegedly led by Pial attacked police vehicles in Char Durgapur, vandalising and setting them ablaze.
Sources claim Hasina’s directives were not limited to the Chhatra League. Senior figures from affiliated bodies-including the Jubo League, Swechchhasebak League, Sramik League, Krishak League, and Mohila Awami League-were mobilised to launch coordinated attacks from multiple directions.
The operation allegedly involved coordination from abroad. Hasina’s cousin, former MP and Awami League Presidium Member Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, reportedly provided directives from Kolkata, along with Abdur Rahman in London and Iqbal Hossain Apu from the party’s central committee.
Locally, Gopalganj Awami League president Mahbub Ali Khan and organisational secretary Shafiqul Alam Kajol are said to have played key roles in executing the plan. Kajol’s wife, Yasmin Alam-a Mohila Awami League district leader-was arrested by police on Tuesday evening for her alleged involvement in mobilising women in support of the blockade.
A particularly influential role was played by Saddam Hossain, who appeared in a livestream from Kolkata during the rally, allegedly giving real-time instructions to Chhatra League members to attack the NCP procession. His involvement is widely cited as the central operational link in the entire series of events.
The attack forced the cancellation of the Gopalganj rally and disrupted the NCP’s broader “July March to Build the Nation” campaign, which was set to continue with a follow-up gathering in Jajira, Shariatpur. Owing to the coordinated violence, the opposition party was unable to proceed with either event.
The NCP has condemned the violence as a deliberate and systematic attempt by Awami League loyalists to stifle dissent and intimidate political rivals through fear and force.
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