Awami League holds torch march in Tungipara, BNP stages counter-protests

Awami League leaders and activists, along with their affiliates, have staged torch processions in Gopalganj's Tungipara to protest the vandalism and destruction of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's house in Dhaka's Dhanmondi and show support for the party's hartal programme.

At the same time, Tungipara Upazila BNP launched their own processions to protest the hartal and the torch rally organised by the Awami League.

To manage the situation, security was beefed up in the area, with law enforcement conducting patrols at key road intersections.

On Monday night, Awami League leaders and activists began their torch processions in Dumuria Union's Pakurtia Bazar and Kushli Union’s Khalek Bazar. Several videos of the event circulated on social media, showing the marches across various roads.

During the processions, Awami League activists chanted slogans condemning the vandalism at the historic residence of Sheikh Mujib on Dhanmondi's Road No. 32, as well as the looting, arson and attacks on the homes of party leaders and activists. They also demanded the withdrawal of "false cases" against former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and her party members, and called for the resignation of Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus.

Meanwhile, BNP leaders and activists launched their own processions from the Multipurpose Municipal Supermarket near Patgatir Bus Stand and Pakurtia Bazar in Dumuria Union. They raised slogans against Hasina and the Awami League.

BNP Tungipara Upazila Convenor Sheikh Salahuddin Islam, Secretary Mahbub Hossain Nasir, Jubo Dal Convener Muktar Hossain, Chhatra Dal Convener Ismail Hossain and others addressed a brief rally at the Multipurpose Municipal Supermarket. They declared their intention to prevent the Awami League’s hartal and torch processions from succeeding, while pledging that the rally organised by Gopalganj BNP would be successful.