The NCP rally, part of a campaign titled “March to Rebuild the Nation,” was targeted by Awami League loyalists aiming to disrupt the event. Gopalganj holds symbolic significance as the burial place of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Hasina’s father and Bangladesh’s founding president.

TV footage showed chaotic scenes as police deployed tear gas and sound grenades to control the crowd. A nurse at Gopalganj District Hospital confirmed the death of three individuals, including Ramjan Sikdar, while others were reportedly taken away by family members.

Hasnat Abdullah, an NCP coordinator, told AFP that participants were threatened with being burned alive and had to seek shelter at a nearby police station. The interim government swiftly imposed a curfew in the area to prevent further unrest.

Political Crisis Deepens Ahead Of 2026 Elections

Interim Prime Minister Muhammad Yunus, who replaced Hasina following a student-led uprising last August, condemned the violence as “a shameful violation of fundamental rights.” He vowed that those responsible would be held accountable.

Hasina, currently in India facing charges including contempt of court, has been sentenced in absentia and remains a deeply polarizing figure. Her party, the Awami League, continues to contest the legitimacy of the current government, as Bangladesh prepares for elections expected in April 2026.

Analysts warn that without a political settlement between rival factions, further unrest could derail the transition process. The NCP, emerging as a key challenger, has continued to draw large crowds in its nationwide campaign.