What should have been a peaceful, so-called student-led rally organized by the National Citizen Party (NCP) in Gopalganj turned into a bloodbath when the Bangladesh Army opened fire on unarmed civilians, resulting in at least five confirmed deaths and an unknown number of additional casualties. Eyewitness accounts and reports from both local and international human rights organizations reveal a chilling truth: this was not crowd control — it was state-sponsored violence.
Gopalganj, revered as the birthplace of Bangladesh’s founding father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, witnessed the deployment of military-grade weaponry, live ammunition, and a coordinated assault that many now describe as an organized massacre. According to the International Crimes Research Foundation (ICRF), the army’s actions were not spontaneous but premeditated. In a formal letter to the United Nations Ethics Office, ICRF described the operation as a genocidal assault, targeting political dissenters under the guise of maintaining order.
A Day of Terror
At around 1:30 PM on July 16, citizens of Gopalganj gathered peacefully near Gopalganj Government College to voice their discontent over the alleged illegal activities and rising incidents of terrorism linked to the NCP — an unregistered political group. Eyewitnesses confirmed that the demonstrators were unarmed and posed no physical threat. No weapons were seen among the crowd.
Despite the peaceful nature of the protest, the Bangladesh Army was deployed — not to protect civilians, but to suppress them with lethal force. Reports confirm that live bullets were fired directly into the crowd, killing multiple individuals and injuring many more. Civilians fleeing the area were also pursued and beaten. Disturbingly, no official post-mortem reports were released for the deceased. Many of the bodies were buried overnight under strict military supervision, raising concerns of a deliberate attempt to destroy forensic evidence.
This was not an isolated clash — it was a state-endorsed massacre. Responsibility lies squarely with two individuals:
- General Waker-Uz-Zaman, Chief of the Bangladesh Army
- Dr. Muhammad Yunus, head of the unelected interim government
The Role of General Waker-Uz-Zaman
Under international law, the use of military force against unarmed civilians is a severe violation of human rights. Yet, General Waker-Uz-Zaman — Bangladesh’s highest-ranking military officer — allowed, and possibly ordered, live-fire engagement on peaceful protesters. His silence following the massacre is as deafening as the gunfire that claimed these lives.
The United Nations Human Rights Council must hold General Waker accountable under the Geneva Conventions and the Rome Statute, both of which address command responsibility and crimes against humanity.
Dr. Muhammad Yunus: The Civilian Face of Repression
While Dr. Yunus is internationally celebrated as a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, at home he now leads what many describe as one of the most repressive regimes in Bangladesh’s history. Under his leadership, the military was granted carte blanche to silence dissent.
Instead of launching an impartial investigation, Dr. Yunus attempted to shift blame onto the protesters, falsely accusing them of attempting to desecrate Sheikh Mujib’s grave. His public statements are viewed by many as efforts to morally justify an unjustifiable atrocity.
Moreover, Dr. Yunus has been accused of leveraging his international connections to suppress criticism abroad and manipulate the global narrative. This incident starkly exposes the gap between his humanitarian image and the grim realities under his leadership.
Heritage Desecration & Political Suppression
Ironically, while the interim government accuses the NCP of desecrating a heritage site, it is the Bangladesh Army that defiled Gopalganj’s dignity staining the soil with the blood of civilians in the birthplace of Sheikh Mujib. The sanctity of Mujib’s legacy has been violated not by opposition youth, but by the bullets fired by those sworn to protect it.
Call for International Inquiry
Given the scale and brutality of the incident, any internal investigation under the current government would lack legitimacy. The International Crimes Research Foundation (ICRF) has already petitioned the United Nations, urging an immediate international investigation into what it calls a crime against humanity.
The Gopalganj massacre is not merely a national tragedy — it is a global human rights crisis that demands justice, accountability, and urgent international attention.
Emerging Evidence and High-Level Involvement
The NCP remains an unregistered political group in Bangladesh. Despite this, many refer to it as the so-called “King’s Party,” allegedly founded and backed by Dr. Muhammad Yunus. Reports suggest that the group is enjoying state protection and special privileges, raising concerns about democratic fairness and governmental impartiality.
A viral video circulating on social media captures a Bangladesh Army officer shouting, “Fire, direct fire, again direct fire!” — strongly suggesting that the use of lethal force was not only sanctioned but premeditated.
Despite the widespread casualties, no confirmed injuries have been reported among the army, police, or NCP members. No credible source has verified any protester attacks involving weapons, which casts serious doubt on the state’s justification for military intervention.
Some social media users have incorrectly labeled the victims as Awami League activists. However, eyewitnesses and local sources confirm that many of the deceased were ordinary citizens with no political affiliation.
Allegations have also surfaced against high-ranking advisors including:
- Asif Mahmud Bhuiyan Sajib (Advisor for LGRD and Youth & Sports)
- Asif Nazrul (Law Advisor)
- Jahangir Alam Choudhury (Advisor for Home Affairs)
All three allegedly monitored the crackdown in real-time from a police control room. Asif Mahmud even posted the following message on his verified Facebook page:
“গোপালগঞ্জে কারফিউ জারি করা হয়েছে। জীবন-মৃত্যুর মতো পরিস্থিতি না হলে সাধারণ জনগণ কেউ ঘর থেকে বের হবেন না। সকল আইনশৃঙ্খলা রক্ষাকারী বাহিনীর সদস্য সংখ্যা বাড়ানো হয়েছে। নিষিদ্ধ সংগঠনের সন্ত্রা*সীদের * ভেঙে দেয়া হবে।”
Translation: “A curfew has been imposed in Gopalganj. Unless it’s a matter of life and death, no ordinary citizen should leave home. The number of law enforcement personnel has been increased. The terrorists of the banned organization will be crushed.”
This declaration, alongside a shoot-on-sight policy, illustrates the militarization of civil unrest and the alarming abuse of state power. It is now clear that the military is being weaponized to serve the political interests of the so-called “King’s Party” — undermining the military’s apolitical mandate.
Final Words
More than 5 lives were lost. Hundreds were injured. An entire nation has been left traumatized. And yet, those responsible for this carnage remain silent, unaccountable, and emboldened.
If the United Nations, global human rights defenders, and democratic governments truly believe in peace and justice, they must act now. Silence in the face of such atrocities is complicity.
Justice for Gopalganj is not a request. It is a moral imperative
