Staff Reporter:
Law enforcers have arrested 20 more people in connection with the clashes with Awami League and banned Chhatra League activists over the NCP’s rally in Gopalganj Sadar upazila on Wednesday.
With this, the number of the arrestees climbed to 45, said Sajedur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Gopalganj Sadar Police Station.
He said the joint forces arrested 20 people from parts of the district from Thursday morning to Friday morning and later handed over to the Sadar Police Station.
There were a few people seen on the streets as residents have been discouraged to go out unless it is an emergency.
Moreover, business establishments remained closed amid the curfew and the number of vehicles plying was very thin.
On the other hand, law enforcers, including Army and Rapid Action Battalion, were seen patrolling in the district to maintain law and order amid the curfew on Friday morning.
On Wednesday, more than 50 people, including police personnel, were injured in a series of clashes between AL, banned Chhatra League activists, and law enforcers over the NCP’s scheduled rally in Gopalganj Sadar upazila.
Of them, four people were declared dead that night, and those critically injured were shifted to several hospitals, including DMCH, from the district for advanced treatment.
Those earlier reported dead are Sohel Mollah, Dipto Saha, Imon Talukdar and Ramjan Kazi.
In light of the deteriorating situation, the local administration initially imposed Section 144 in Sadar upazila and later enforced a curfew for 22 hours beginning at 8pm on Wednesday.
Just before the expiration of the curfew on Thursday, the government extended it until further notice, with a three-hour pause from 11am to 2pm.
The curfew remained in effect from 6pm on Thursday until 11am on Friday, and then will resume from 2pm onwards until further notice, according to a statement from the Ministry of Home Affairs on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the government has formed a three-member body to investigate the violent incidents that resulted in loss of lives and property.
