453 sued under Anti-Terrorism Act in Gopalganj

GOPALGANJ, Nov 13: A total of 453 people have been accused in a case filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act over a series of incidents in Gopalganj surrounding a strike called by the banned Chhatra League.

Of them, 153 have been named in the case, while 300 others have been listed as unidentified accused.

Sub-Inspector Jalal Uddin of Gopalganj Sadar Police Station filed the case on Wednesday, naming the accused.

Inspector (Investigation) Sirajul Islam of the police station confirmed the case on Thursday afternoon, saying eight people had been arrested. They were later sent to the district jail through a court order.

On November 10, leaders and activists of the Awami League, whose activities are banned and its associate organisations allegedly carried out a series of violent acts in Gopalganj during a countrywide student strike called by the banned Chhatra League.

From the morning, groups of protesters armed with locally made weapons, including oars, shields and spears, took positions at key points across the district. They staged demonstrations and vandalised a covered van, among other acts of violence.

They also blocked sections of the Dhaka-Khulna highway in Gopalganj and the Gopalganj-Tekerhat road by digging up parts of the roads and setting tyres on fire, disrupting public movement.

Earlier, on the night of November 9, they allegedly hurled crude bombs at several locations in the town, creating panic among residents.