 "Bangladesh: Gopalganj violence reaches UN with 'genocide' allegations, Army's role questioned")
The clashes that erupted in former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s hometown, Gopalganj, on July 16, have reached the doors of the United Nations in what is allegedly being described as “Genocide”. In a letter written to the UN Ethical Office, an independent non-governmental organisation called the International Crimes Research Foundation (ICRF) highlighted the political violence, heritage destruction and other Human Rights Violations that have engulfed Bangladesh.
At least 4 people have reportedly been killed and 15 others were injured following a violent clash that erupted at a National Citizens Party (NCP) rally in Gopalganj, Bangladesh, on Wednesday. At 2:30 pm (local time), the convoy of the NCP was attacked in Gopalganj, the hometown of Bangladesh’s former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. As per the report, the convoy came under attack while it was coming back after holding a rally.
The incident took place in front of Gopalganj Government College at the launch ghat area of the town, The Dhaka Tribune reported. There were separate attacks before the rally even started at 1:30 pm (local time). The clash erupted on the stage of the rally at the municipal park area of Gopalganj town.
The case reaches the United Nations
In the letter to the UN Ethical Office, ICRF argued that NCP leaders marched into Gopalganj with thousands of their followers, and the objective of the rally was to desecrate and demolish the graveyard of Bangladesh’s Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
“On 16 July 2025, a political group known as the Nationalist Citizens Party (NCP), which is neither registered with the Election Commission nor holds any legal status as an Electoral Political Party, marched into Gopalganj with thousands of its followers,” ICRF said in a letter to the UN.
“Their reported objective was to desecrate and demolish the graveyard of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman- a sacred and symbolic national site that holds profound emotional, historical, and political significance for our people,” the letter furthered.
The ICRF noted that while the residents resisted the party workers, the Bangladesh Army deployed forces in support of the NCP. The group accused the country’s army of using lethal weapons to open fire on “unarmed civilians”. Contrary to the figure that is being reported by multiple Bangladeshi news outlets, the report suggested that at least 21 people lost their lives in the clashes and a civilian was arrested and tortured by the authorities.
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View AllICRF went on to demand an independent international investigation into the Gopalganj crisis. The group also urged the UN to hold the Bangladesh Army accountable under international law for any violations of human rights, including extrajudicial killings and torture.
A day after the violence, Mohammad Yunus's interim government announced that it had established a committee to investigate acts of violence and deaths that occurred in Gopalganj. According to The Dhaka Tribune, the Committee will be chaired by Nasimul Ghani, senior secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs. However, many are raising concerns about the government’s bias.
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