Politics

NCP leaders take shelter in Gopalganj Circuit House

National Citizen Party (NCP) leaders, including convener Nahid Islam, southern chief organizer Hasnat Abdullah, and northern chief organizer Sarjis Alam, took refuge in the Gopalganj Circuit House around 3:00pm following a violent attack on the party’s convoy.

Gopalganj descended into chaos on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, following a violent attack on the National Citizen Party (NCP) convoy returning from a rally in the town. 

The violence erupted around 2:45 PM near the Municipal Park area, shortly after the NCP concluded its rally. The convoy came under attack, transforming Gopalganj into a volatile battleground. Police and army units intervened, firing shots to disperse the attackers, but their vehicles were also targeted in the melee. As of 3:57 PM, intermittent clashes continue, with tear gas and smoke from fires visible across several roads, keeping the area tense.

The convoy attack followed an earlier assault on the NCP’s rally stage at Municipal Park around 1:35 PM, where sound equipment and chairs were vandalized. Despite the disruption, NCP leaders proceeded with the event, delivering speeches and rallying supporters before the situation escalated.

The violent incidents highlight the volatile political climate in Gopalganj, a historical stronghold of the Awami League. Law enforcement is actively pursuing the attackers, but the situation remains fluid, with clashes persisting in parts of the city. The NCP leaders, now sheltered in the circuit house, face a precarious moment as they navigate the fallout of the attacks while continuing their campaign.