Thoughts on Gopalganj

I have been thinking about the incidents in Gopalgang involving the NCP march and the AL and security forces responses.

First and foremost, it is outrageous for the AL supporters to try to equate what happened in Gopalgang with the regime's actions in July/August 2024.

While it may have been a deliberate provocation, the NCP (and others) certainly have a right to hold rallies and political activity anywhere in the country, including in Gopalgang.

That said, the NCP leadership and security forces should have anticipated a reaction from the AL supporters and been prepared for what ensued.

The AL supporters did not have a right to confront the NCP and security forces simply because of the perceived insult/challenge posed by the march. The AL was looking for a fight and got one. They are not blameless victims.

As with any incident that results in loss of life, it is appropriate to question the use of force by law enforcement agencies.

There should be procedures to review and ensure that the security forces acted correctly. If they did not, there needs to be accountability and changes to SOPs.

In the coming weeks and months, there are likely to be other similar confrontations involving rival political factions as elections approach.

The law enforcement agencies will need to plan appropriately to prevent violence and respond accordingly. This should be a priority for the Interim Government.

It is clear that the AL's desire is to divert attention from their crimes and try to establish some type of moral equivalency with the Interim Government. They want to undermine the July/August commemorations.

The pro-democracy forces need to understand this and avoid playing into the hands of those who want to turn back the clock.