In Gopalganj’s Kashiani upazila, members of the now-banned Bangladesh Chhatra League staged a protest and blocked the Dhaka–Khulna Highway, condemning the alleged defacement of a mural of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and demanding the return of Sheikh Hasina to the country.
The demonstration took place on Monday around 11:45 a.m. near the Ratail Horticulture Centre under Kashiani upazila. Protesters briefly obstructed traffic on the busy highway before forming a procession, chanting slogans in support of “Joy Bangla” and expressing allegiance to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Sheikh Hasina. They also strongly protested the reported defacement of a mural dedicated to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at the Kashiani Upazila complex.
Eyewitness footage circulating on social media showed approximately 40 to 50 individuals participating in the procession. Some demonstrators were seen igniting fire on the roadway as vehicles became stranded on both sides of the highway, causing temporary disruption to traffic movement.
Although the leadership of the protest was not immediately confirmed, a video of the incident was later shared on social media by Suman Sardar, vice-president of the Kashiani Upazila unit of the Bangladesh Chhatra League. The footage contributed to wider circulation of the incident online and intensified public discussion.
The protest was linked to an earlier incident on 9 June, when unidentified individuals allegedly defaced the mural of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman inside the Kashiani Upazila Parishad premises. The following evening, on 10 June, a group of local activists and student organisation members were seen cleaning the mural, an act that was widely shared on social media. The circulation of those images reportedly triggered strong reactions from supporters of the organisation and others affiliated with the political movement.
Timeline of Events
Date
Event
Location
Outcome
9 June
Alleged defacement of mural
Kashiani Upazila Parishad
Investigation of incident triggered
10 June
Cleaning of mural by activists
Upazila complex
Images circulated on social media
15 June
Highway blockade and protest
Dhaka–Khulna Highway (Ratail area)
Traffic disruption reported
During the protest, commuters were left stranded for a period as both sides of the highway experienced congestion. The situation normalised later, although the demonstration drew attention due to its location on a major transport artery.
Kashiani Police Station Officer-in-Charge Muhammad Mahfuzur Rahman stated that he had been informed about the procession but, upon reaching the scene, did not find any demonstrators present. He added that the matter was under review and would be investigated further.
The incident highlights continuing political tensions in the region, particularly surrounding symbolic representations of national leadership and their public spaces.
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