Banned Chhatra League marches with sticks in front of police in Gopalganj, tyres burned on highway

Activists of the banned Chhatra League marched with sticks in hand in front of police in Gopalganj town on Thursday. At around 12 noon, they held a protest procession on the Launchghat Bridge in the district town. From the morning, Chhatra League activists also held protest marches at several places in the town and staged a blockade by burning tyres on the highway.

Local people said that at around 10:30am on Thursday, several Chhatra League activists set fire on the Dhaka-Khulna highway in the Chechaniakandi area and held a protest programme. They chanted slogans including 'Joy Bangla, Joy Bangabandhu' at the time.

At around 11:30am, activists of the banned Chhatra League, Jubo League and Swechchhasebak League brought out a procession carrying sticks from the Gabtala area on the outskirts of Gopalganj town. The procession moved through an area of about one kilometre and ended at the town's Shishu Park area.

Shortly afterwards, at around 12 noon, another procession started in front of the district jail on the town's outskirts and ended on the Launchghat Bridge. The Chhatra League activists gathered in front of police members stationed there and chanted 'Joy Bangla, Joy Bangabandhu' slogans. Police members present at the scene were seen standing silently at the time.

Asked about the matter, district police additional superintendent Kazi Humayun Rashid (administration and finance) said a few isolated incidents might have taken place, but they had no information about it. He said police patrols were continuing.

The processions at several places in the town have caused concern among local residents.