Leaders and activists of the activities-banned Awami League and its affiliated organisations staged a major show of force in Gopalganj on Sunday, marching openly with sharp weapons, vandalising a police vehicle and public installations, and setting fire to the July Memorial, as the government transferred the district's deputy commissioner and superintendent of police following the unrest.
The processions, which continued from around 11am to 2pm, saw activists carrying machetes, axes, spears, sticks and oars through major streets of the district town, according to eyewitnesses and local reports.
Despite a heavy deployment of law enforcement personnel, the demonstrators marched through several areas, reopened the long-closed district Awami League office and damaged public property.
The unrest prompted the deployment of three additional platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), bringing the total to six platoons, comprising approximately 150 personnel.
Following the violence, Deputy Commissioner Md Arif-uz-Zaman was withdrawn and attached to the Ministry of Public Administration, while Habiganj DC GM Sarfaraz was appointed his replacement.
Superintendent of Police Md Habibullah was transferred to Feni, with Feni SP Pratyush Kumar Majumdar appointed to Gopalganj.
The transfers came amid questions over the authorities' response to the demonstrations, during which protesters were seen moving through the town despite the presence of police.
Armed processions
According to local sources, Awami League supporters began gathering at Ghosherchar Uttarpara in Latifpur union from around 8am.
One procession, reportedly led by municipal Awami League organising secretary Salauddin Khan, entered the town after crossing the BSCIC bridge.
Other groups, including one reportedly led by Chhatra League leader Md Samiul Haque and another by former councillor Al Amin, converged near the old launch terminal before heading towards the district Awami League office in Bankpara.
The demonstrators broke open the office, which had remained closed for an extended period, and celebrated its reopening.
Eyewitnesses said protesters vandalised and set fire to the July Memorial near the launch terminal.
They also removed the nameplate of Gopalganj Government College and displayed a banner identifying it as Government Bangabandhu College.
At Gopalganj University of Science and Technology, protesters damaged the nameplate at Hadi Chattar.
Several demonstrators climbed onto a police armoured personnel carrier, damaged its mirrors and spray-painted slogans supporting Sheikh Hasina and the Awami League.
A nearby police box was also vandalised.
Fires were lit on roads near the launch terminal, government college and press club, disrupting traffic.
Movement along the Gopalganj–Patgati road remained suspended for nearly three hours, according to local accounts.
Security forces deployed
At a press briefing, BGB Brigadier General Mahmud Hasan said the additional deployment was intended to maintain public safety and prevent further violence.
He said between 1,500 and 2,000 people, possibly more, had gathered around the deputy commissioner's office complex earlier in the day.
The BGB worked with other security agencies to restore calm, he added.
Dhaka Range DIG Md Mostafizur Rahman said approximately 1,350 police personnel had been deployed across Gopalganj, alongside BGB, Armed Police Battalion, Special Reserve Battalion and Ansar members.
He said security arrangements covered important government installations and a 67-kilometre stretch of the national highway, which remained operational.
However, eyewitness accounts described vandalism and road blockades in the district town, raising questions about the effectiveness of security arrangements.
Violence spreads from Tungipara
The unrest followed attacks on BNP and Jubo Dal offices in Tungipara on Saturday.
According to local witnesses and BNP leaders, Awami League and Chhatra League activists vandalised a Jubo Dal office at Barni Bazar before attacking and setting fire to a BNP office at Nilfa Bazar.
Several shops belonging to BNP supporters were also reportedly damaged.
Tungipara police OC Ayub Ali said police had received information about the incidents but no formal complaint had been lodged at the time.
The latest developments have renewed concerns about political violence in Gopalganj, where clashes surrounding an NCP rally in July 2025 resulted in four deaths.
