Panic gripped parts of Natore on Sunday night, 15 November, after a group of masked individuals fired more than a hundred rounds of blank shots and detonated several crude bombs in the Dattapara area. On the same night, activists of the Jubo League—an affiliated wing of the Awami League, whose political activities remain officially banned—staged a torchlight procession and demonstration in the district’s Lalpur upazila.
According to local residents and eyewitnesses, at least 30 masked men arrived in Dattapara aboard three microbuses under the cover of darkness. Stepping out of the vehicles, the group began marching through the locality while chanting ‘Joy Bangla’ slogans. Within moments, the quiet of the night was shattered as they opened fire into the air, discharging over a hundred blank rounds alongside multiple crude bomb blasts. The deafening noise sent shockwaves through nearby homes and roadside establishments, leaving residents fearful. However, as local people eventually began gathering and advancing towards the spot, the masked men hastily boarded their microbuses and sped away in the direction of Dhaka.
Law enforcement personnel rushed to the scene shortly after the disturbance was reported to secure the area. Confirming the gunfire, Natore’s Additional Superintendent of Police Ifte Khayer Alam stated that officers had inspected the site and launched a formal inquiry. While the occurrence of the shooting has been verified, investigators are still working to determine the exact number of rounds fired and crude bombs exploded. Legal proceedings are currently underway in connection with the incident, he added.
Meanwhile, separate political tension unfolded in Lalpur upazila on the very same night. Leaders and activists of the Jubo League organised a torchlight rally in the area, marching through local streets and shouting various slogans during their protest.
The back-to-back incidents across two parts of the district have sparked widespread discussion and unease among local citizens. Authorities have yet to obtain complete details regarding the Lalpur demonstration, and investigators have not immediately confirmed whether any specific political group or faction was behind the masked shooting and explosions in Dattapara. Police remain on alert as efforts continue to identify those responsible and preserve public order.
