Gopalganj violence reveals dark side of Bangladesh’s new politics

Bangladesh's political theatre has always been animated, its vibrancy marred by episodes of violence that seem almost intrinsic to its narrative.

In the wake of Sheikh Hasina's ouster from power in August last year, the country has been caught in a downward spiral of unrest, with the streets increasingly overtaken by chaos and common citizens bearing the brunt of growing insecurity. The interim government, despite its stated commitment to restoring order, appears unable-or perhaps unwilling - to rein in this spiralling disorder.

With the Awami League outlawed and absent from the electoral fray, a vacuum has emerged - one that has not necessarily been filled with stability. Instead, political rivalries have intensified. Formerly united in opposition to the League, parties have begun turning on each other, vying for dominance in an increasingly fragmented landscape. Among them, the National Citizen's Party (NCP), born from the fervour of last July's student uprising, has emerged as a powerful and provocative force. Its meteoric rise has further stoked tensions in a country still grappling with the remnants of its former ruling party's influence.

The Gopalganj incident on July 16 starkly illustrated the dark side of this new political order. The NCP's ambitious cross-country campaign, titled 'March to Build the Country', aimed to mark the first anniversary of the July Uprising. What began as a rally to showcase unity and purpose soon devolved into violence when NCP members clashed with elements of the banned Bangladesh Chhatra League - once the student wing of the Awami League. Reports confirmed that crude explosives were hurled, resulting in five fatalities and over 50 injuries. While the Awami League may be officially dissolved, its grassroots presence and legacy evidently persist.

More worryingly, the clash also laid bare the NCP's own descent into authoritarian conduct. The party, which has for months championed the banning of the Awami League and vilified its supporters as 'fascists', now finds itself mirroring the very traits it once condemned. The violence in Gopalganj - a town symbolically tethered to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman - was no accident. NCP's provocative choice of location, viewed by many as an intentional attempt to desecrate Mujib's legacy, has sparked fears of a coordinated campaign to erase the historical and ideological foundations of Bangladesh itself.