No untoward incident was reported in Gopalganj on Thursday, the first anniversary of the violence surrounding the National Citizen Party (NCP)'s "March to Gopalganj" program in 2025, in which five people were killed.
Law enforcement agencies remained on alert across the district to maintain law and order.
The district administration strengthened security measures, with five platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) deployed in Gopalganj from Wednesday.
Joint patrols by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), police and BGB personnel were seen across Gopalganj town on Thursday. Checkpoints were set up at key points, while members of different law enforcement agencies also carried out duties in plain clothes.
At 9:30am, the district administration paid tribute to the July martyrs at the reconstructed July Memorial adjacent to the International Cricket Stadium in Gopalganj town.
Among those present were Gopalganj-2 Member of Parliament K M Babor, Deputy Commissioner Md Arif-Uz-Zaman, Superintendent of Police Md Habibullah, District Council Administrator Sharif Rafiquzzaman, senior government officials, and leaders and activists of the BNP and its affiliated organizations.
Superintendent of Police Md Habibullah said: "Gopalganj is not being viewed differently from other districts. The people of Gopalganj are peace-loving, so the law and order situation in the district remains normal on July 16 as well."
Meanwhile, a case was filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act, 2009, in Kashiani against 120 leaders and activists of the Awami League and its affiliated organizations over allegations of planning sabotage. Another 200 to 300 unidentified people were also named as accused.
The case was filed with Kashiani Police Station on Wednesday night by Imdadul Haque, general secretary of Ratail Union Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and a resident of Dhankora village under Ratail Union in Kashiani upazila. Assistant Superintendent of Police (Muksudpur Circle) Nafichur Rahman confirmed the matter on Thursday.
According to the case statement, leaders and activists of the Awami League and its affiliated organizations blocked the Dhaka-Khulna highway at Tilchhara village under Orakandi Union in Kashiani upazila on the afternoon of July 14.
The complaint alleged that they obstructed traffic by chanting "Joy Bangla" slogans as part of a plan to bring back fugitive former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and restore her to power, creating fear and anger among the public.
It further alleged that when complainant Imdadul Haque arrived at the scene with associates on motorcycles, the accused attacked them, assaulted them and set the motorcycles on fire before fleeing after police arrived.
Assistant Superintendent of Police (Muksudpur Circle) Nafichur Rahman said: "The case has been filed over allegations of blocking the Dhaka-Khulna highway in the name of an organization whose activities have been banned, obstructing vehicular movement, assaulting BNP leaders and setting motorcycles on fire. Eighteen accused were arrested and sent to the district jail through the court on Wednesday. Police operations are continuing to arrest the remaining accused."
Deputy Commissioner Md Arif-Uz-Zaman said: "A letter was sent requesting the deployment of BGB to maintain law and order in the district centering on July 16 and August 15. Based on that letter, five platoons of BGB have been deployed in Gopalganj."
He added: "Not only on July 16 or August 15, but it was decided at the law and order and monitoring committee that BGB would be deployed at intervals to maintain law and order in the district. This is part of our routine work."
On July 16, 2025, the National Citizen Party (NCP) announced its "March to Gopalganj" program. During clashes involving law enforcement agencies and leaders and activists of the Awami League and its affiliated organizations, fiv people were killed.
Attacks and vandalism were carried out at the NCP rally venue, the residence of the deputy commissioner, the office of the superintendent of police and the district jail. The rally venue was set on fire, while the July Memorial adjacent to the International Cricket Stadium was vandalized.
The district administration imposed Section 144 and a curfew to bring the situation under control. NCP leaders later took shelter at the office of the superintendent of police before leaving the area under tight security in Bangladesh Army armored personnel carriers (APCs). The situation began returning to normal at around 6pm.
Police subsequently filed 15 cases with Gopalganj, Kotalipara, Kashiani and Tungipara police stations over the incidents. The cases named 1,015 leaders and activists of the Awami League and its affiliated organizations, while another 14,760 people were listed as unidentified accused.
So far, police have arrested 441 people and sent them to the district jail through the court.
