Dhaka, July 17 — Bangladesh’s Awami League has strongly condemned what it calls “state-sponsored repression” during a rally in Gopalganj, where four people were reportedly killed and over 25 injured in alleged police gunfire on Wednesday.
The ruling party accused law enforcement of launching “indiscriminate attacks, shootings, and brutal killings” of civilians protesting against the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus. Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, president of the Awami League, issued a scathing statement, calling the crackdown part of a deep-rooted conspiracy orchestrated by what she described as “murderer-fascist Yunus and his group.”
Hasina claimed that “mercenary forces” fired on innocent civilians and branded the violence as surpassing “medieval barbarity.” She warned that attacks on ‘Bangabandhu’ Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s legacy, including the attempted march to his mausoleum in Tungipara, would not go unanswered by the Bengali people.
Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader also issued a statement accusing the army, law enforcement, and militants from the NCP and Islami Chhatra Shibir of opening fire on peaceful protesters. He alleged that the opposition had sinister plans to attack Bangabandhu’s resting place and destabilize the nation through coordinated programs like the “March to Gopalganj.”
Quader described the July incident as part of a broader conspiracy to create chaos in the country, invoking past July tragedies. He added that one army personnel was seen desecrating a victim’s body, calling it an act of inhumanity.
In response to the violence, the Awami League has called for nationwide demonstrations and is preparing for a ‘Long March to Jamuna’ in protest against what it describes as illegal occupation and terror tactics by the interim administration.
The situation remains tense as political divisions deepen amid rising unrest.
