Two local offices belonging to the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its youth wing, the Jubo Dal, were vandalised and set on fire in Tungipara upazila of Gopalganj on Saturday night, 14 November. Activists of the Awami League, whose political activities remain banned, along with its affiliated organisations, reportedly carried out the back-to-back attacks.
The unrest unfolded across two separate commercial hubs—Nilfa Bazar and Borni Bazar—within the upazila. According to local sources, a group of Awami League and associate body activists brought out a procession at Nilfa Bazar armed with sticks and clubs. Demonstrators marched through the area chanting slogans including “Joy Bangla” and “Joy Bangabandhu”. Tensions escalated rapidly when the procession targeted the local BNP office. Assailants stormed the premises, smashing furniture and fixtures before setting the building ablaze.
Almost simultaneously, similar scenes played out at Borni Bazar elsewhere in Tungipara. Another procession of Awami League supporters paraded through the market, culminating in an attack on the local Jubo Dal office. The perpetrators vandalised the facility, leaving significant property damage in their wake before dispersing from the scene.
News of the consecutive assaults triggered immediate panic among traders and residents across both localities. Fearing further escalation or violent clashes, shopkeepers hurriedly pulled down their shutters, bringing evening commercial activity to an abrupt halt. Within minutes, the usually busy rural markets turned deserted, leaving a tense atmosphere hanging over the area late into the night.
Local political leaders have begun assessing the extent of the damage. Sharif Rafiquzzaman, Convener of the Gopalganj District BNP, confirmed that he had received reports regarding the vandalism and arson at the party’s Nilfa Bazar office. He stated that party officials are actively gathering detailed information about the incident to determine the full scale of the destruction.
Despite the commotion and visible property damage across two separate markets, local law enforcement maintained that no official reports had reached them. Contacted for comment on the situation, Md. Ayub Ali, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Tungipara Police Station, stated briefly that he was unaware of any such incidents taking place.
