Bangladesh’s interim government has imposed a curfew and deployed the military to Gopalganj after deadly clashes between security forces and supporters of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina left at least four people dead. The violence erupted during a student-led opposition rally, deepening political instability ahead of planned elections.

The unrest broke out Wednesday in Gopalganj, a politically sensitive district as the ancestral home of Hasina and a stronghold of her banned Awami League party. Supporters of the former prime minister clashed with police as a convoy of student activists from the newly-formed National Citizen Party (NCP) attempted to march on the town. Protesters attacked police with sticks and set vehicles on fire, prompting security forces to open fire, leaving at least four dead and many injured.

The government declared a curfew in the district until Thursday evening and deployed military forces after police struggled to contain the violence. Television footage showed army personnel securing key sites as interim leader Muhammad Yunus’s administration condemned the clashes as “heinous” and blamed Awami League loyalists.

Rising Tensions Amid Post-Hasina Unrest

Since Hasina’s ouster 11 months ago, Bangladesh has experienced persistent unrest, with the NCP positioning itself as a new political force. Wednesday’s violence reflects the deepening polarization as Yunus’s interim government attempts to assert control ahead of elections scheduled for April 2026.

Authorities accuse the Awami League of stoking violence to destabilize the transitional government. Hasina, now in exile in India and facing charges of crimes against humanity, has denied involvement but her party continues to mobilize supporters despite its ban.

Political Crisis Deepens

Gopalganj holds symbolic importance; it is home to the mausoleum of Hasina’s father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Bangladesh’s independence leader. The violence underscores the fragile security situation as Yunus’s government promises accountability, vowing that “those responsible will face justice.”

Critics warn the escalating clashes could jeopardize hopes for a peaceful democratic transition. The Islamist Jamaat-e-Islami party has announced nationwide protests, further stoking tensions.