Leaders and activists of the Awami League staged demonstrations in Gopalganj on Wednesday protesting the filing of murder cases against former Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina.
On the other hand, Gopalganj District BNP and its allied organizations held a separate sit-in and march demanding her trial.
The protests were sparked by the recent filing of a case accusing Sheikh Hasina for her alleged involvement in the killings during the ongoing student protests.
The Gopalganj District Awami League organized a protest march that began at their party office and moved through various streets in the city, culminating at the Chourangi area.
Thousands of Awami League leaders and activists, including members of the Chhatra League and Mohila Awami League, participated in the demonstration.
The rally was presided over by Mahabub Ali Khan, President of the District Awami League.
Several senior leaders, including GM Sahab Uddin Azam, Sheikh Lutfar Rahman Bacchu, and Mayor Sheikh Rakib Hossain, addressed the protest march.
Speakers at the rally condemned the murder case against Sheikh Hasina, labeling it a politically motivated conspiracy aimed at preventing her return to the country after being forced into exile on August 5.
The leaders vowed to counter the case through political means and called for the prosecution of those responsible for the deaths of Awami League members and attacks on minority communities during the student protests.
Protests in Kotalipara and Tungipara
In Kotalipara, Sheikh Hasina's electoral area, the Awami League and its allied organizations held a protest march and rally.
The march started from the Upazila Parishad premises and proceeded through the main streets before gathering at the party office for a rally. Leaders, including Upazila Awami League President Bhobendranath Biswas, condemned the murder case as baseless and vowed to continue their protests until the case is withdrawn and Sheikh Hasina returns to the country.
Similarly, in Tungipara, Sheikh Hasina’s birthplace, local Awami League members held a protest march and rally.
The march began at the Tungipara Municipal SuperMarket and concluded with a street rally at Bypass intersection.
Municipal Awami League President Sheikh Saiful Islam addressed the rally, expressing anger over the case against Sheikh Hasina.
Gopalganj Lawyers’ Association joins protests
The Gopalganj District Lawyers’ Association also joined the protests, organizing a march and human chain.
The lawyers gathered at their office and marched through the streets before holding a human chain in front of the Press Club.
During the event, they condemned Sheikh Hasina's forced exile and demanded her immediate return.
BNP protests in Gopalganj demanding trial of Sheikh Hasina
In a separate protest, the Gopalganj District BNP and its allied organizations held a sit-in and march demanding the trial of Sheikh Hasina and her associates.
The protest took place at the Sheikh Saheera Khatun Medical College Hospital auditorium and was led by District BNP Convener Sharif Rafiquzzaman.
BNP leaders accused the Awami League of repression, forced disappearances, and killings of BNP members over the past 17 years, and called for justice for the deaths of students and civilians during recent protests.
