Dhaka, July 25: The Gopalganj violence on July 16 has exposed the deepening instability in Bangladesh’s political landscape, reflecting the darker side of the emerging post-Awami League order.
Following the ousting of Sheikh Hasina in August last year and the subsequent banning of the Awami League, political unrest has escalated. The National Citizen’s Party (NCP), a new political force born from last year’s student uprising, has quickly risen to prominence—but with it, tensions have intensified.
The Gopalganj rally, part of the NCP’s “March to Build the Country” campaign, devolved into violence after clashes with remnants of the banned Bangladesh Chhatra League, once the student wing of the Awami League. The incident left five dead and over 50 injured, raising alarms over the NCP’s growing authoritarian tendencies.
Ironically, the NCP—once vocal in denouncing the Awami League’s “fascist” legacy—now faces accusations of adopting similar tactics. The choice of Gopalganj, the birthplace of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, was widely seen as provocative. The attack is being interpreted by many as part of a broader campaign to erase Mujib’s legacy from public consciousness.
Since Hasina’s removal, Mujib’s portraits have been taken down, institutions renamed, and textbooks altered. The NCP, with backing from Islamist groups, has denounced the 1972 Constitution as a “Mujibbadi” document, seeking its overhaul.
Observers fear Bangladesh is trading one form of dominance for another. The interim government’s silence on the Gopalganj incident and increasing signs of military complicity have raised serious concerns over its neutrality.
With democracy under strain, historians and civil society voices warn against rewriting history for political gain. As political violence escalates, Bangladesh must reaffirm its commitment to pluralism, reconciliation, and truth—before another chapter is marked by bloodshed.
