THE attacks on the National Citizen Party鈥檚 rally in Gopalganj by alleged Awami League activists are condemnable; equally troubling is the harassment of ordinary citizens. Since the attack on July 16, the government has imposed a curfew in the district, filed eight cases accusing about 8,400 unnamed individuals, and arrested at least 321 people. Among the arrested are at least nine children. Police filed the cases against unnamed accused in connection with the violence in Gopalganj, including charges of murder, unlawful assembly, rioting, and obstructing public servants from performing their duties. Locals report that widespread panic has gripped residents due to ongoing police operations. Family members allege that ordinary farmers and day labourers, who were not present at the site of the violence, have also been detained. When asked about the arrest of minors, the home affairs adviser claimed to have no such information and denied allegations of mass arrests. Law enforcement agencies should, of course, take strict measures against those attempting to create unrest, but such measures must follow due process 鈥� not the notorious legacy of the deposed Awami League government, in which filing cases against thousands of unnamed accused and conducting block raids to instill fear were routine.
While the violence was reportedly triggered by Awami League activists, serious questions remain regarding the use of excessive force 鈥� particularly when five people were killed and buried without post-mortems. Conflicting claims have emerged regarding the burials. Contrary to the government鈥檚 assertion that the bodies of four deceased were taken away from the Gopalganj District Hospital by an unruly mob on July 16, the victims鈥� families told the media that hospital authorities made no move to conduct autopsies. These discrepancies point to the need for a credible investigation into the violence to uncover the truth and restore public trust in law enforcement 鈥� trust that remains fragile due to police involvement in the July mass uprising. It is deeply disappointing that the practice of filing cases against thousands of unnamed individuals, including deceased persons, and the continuation of custodial torture persist despite a changed political context. The recommendations of the police reform commission, which highlighted institutional will as the key factor in curbing police violence, have been relegated to the backburner.
Following the ouster of the AL regime, and in line with public aspirations, it is expected that the government will ensure a credible investigation into the Gopalganj violence, prevent the harassment of ordinary people and take sincere steps to train law enforcement agencies in de-escalating violence without resorting to brute force.