106 AL men among 3,306 sued over attack on Army

A case was filed in Gopalganj accusing as many as 3,306 individuals following the attack on army patrol teams, vandalism of their vehicles, and setting fire to a vehicle on August 10. 

The case names 106 (AL) Awami League leaders and activists, including Gopalganj District AL President Mahbub Ali Khan and General Secretary G.M. Shahab Uddin Azam, as well as 3,200 unidentified individuals as defendants. 

Lieutenant Colonel Md Maksudul Alam, Commander of the 10 East Bengal Regiment, Jessore Cantonment, and the temporary army camp at Gopalganj Sheikh Rehana Textile Engineering College, lodged the lawsuit with Gopalganj Sadar Police Station on Thursday.

Officer-in-charge of the police station Mohammad Anisur Rahman confirmed the matter, adding that they have started an investigation into the incident but no suspects have been made arrested so far. 

According to the case statement, the incident occurred at Gopinathpur Bus Stand area on the Dhaka-Khulna Highway on August 10 when thousands of AL leaders, activists, and locals blocked the highway, demanding return of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina to the country. The protest caused a massive traffic jam with over a hundred vehicles stranded on both sides of the road.

Responding to the call for help, a patrol team led by Major Mohammad Akikur Rahman Rushad reached the scene around 4:30 PM. Upon reaching Gopinathpur at 5:00 PM, the patrol team encountered a large group of miscreants who had blocked the highway.

Locals requested assistance from army fearing that the attackers might set the stranded vehicles on fire.

Upon receiving the news, army personnel on duty in Gopalganj went to the spot and asked them to leave the highway and conduct their protest peacefully. 

However, the protesters got into an argument with the army personnel, which escalated into an attack on the soldiers.

In the attack, nine people, including four army officers, were injured. Additionally, two rifles and six magazines were snatched from the army, one vehicle was set on fire, and two vehicles were vandalized.

Later that day, one weapon was recovered, and the following day, another weapon and three magazines were retrieved by the army.

Army vehicle torched, 15 injured as violence erupts in Gopalganj