A brutal state-sponsored massacre in Gopalganj by the Bangladesh Army has left at least 24 civilians dead. With growing global outrage, this article exposes the truth behind the violence, implicating top military and political leaders. Demand for international accountability is rising amid calls for justice and UN intervention.
What unfolded in Gopalganj on July 16, 2025, was not a political demonstration gone awry it was a meticulously executed act of state-sponsored violence. The massacre of unarmed civilians by the Bangladesh Army during what should have been a peaceful rally has stunned the nation and appalled the international community. The gravity of this incident cannot be overstated: at least 24 people were killed, dozens injured, and many more remain unaccounted for. Eyewitnesses, independent investigators, and human rights organizations are now calling it what it is a massacre, not a crackdown.
From Peaceful Protest to Brutality: What Happened in Gopalganj?
On the afternoon of July 16, around 1:30 PM, hundreds of civilians began gathering near Gopalganj Government College to protest against the rise of terrorism and corruption allegedly associated with the National Citizen Party (NCP), a controversial and unregistered political group. The protest was peaceful. No one in the crowd was armed. No threat of violence loomed.
Yet, instead of facilitating public expression, the government deployed the Bangladesh Army. Reports from the International Crimes Research Foundation (ICRF) and multiple eyewitness accounts reveal that the troops were not there to maintain peace but to enforce submission through terror.
Live ammunition was fired directly into the crowd. Not rubber bullets, not tear gas — but lethal rounds, designed to kill. Civilians who tried to flee were chased, beaten, and some were reportedly detained. By nightfall, bodies were buried under tight military supervision without any post-mortem reports, raising suspicions of a systematic cover-up.
The Role of the Army and the Chain of Command
The army’s involvement in civilian suppression marks a severe deviation from constitutional norms and military ethics. The blame for this massacre, however, cannot be deflected toward low-ranking officers. The chain of command leads to the top: General Waker-Uz-Zaman, the Chief of Bangladesh Army.
According to the Geneva Conventions and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), the deliberate use of military force against unarmed civilians during internal conflicts constitutes a war crime. By either authorizing or failing to prevent this use of force, General Waker is complicit and must be held accountable under international law.
Dr. Muhammad Yunus: A Nobel Laureate Turned Autocrat?
The civilian head of this interim government, Dr. Muhammad Yunus, bears equal responsibility. Once hailed globally for his work in microfinance, Yunus now presides over one of the most repressive regimes in Bangladesh’s recent history.
Rather than order an independent inquiry, Yunus doubled down — accusing the demonstrators of planning to desecrate the grave of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. This claim lacks evidence and reeks of political propaganda. In his desperate attempt to justify the violence, Yunus exposed his regime’s real motive: to crush dissent, not preserve order.
Worse still, there are increasing allegations that Yunus has used his global influence to silence criticism abroad. From humanitarian icon to the face of authoritarian suppression, his fall from grace is as tragic as the lives lost in Gopalganj.
Heritage, Hypocrisy, and the Desecration of Mujib’s Legacy
One of the government’s core justifications for the army’s presence was to prevent an attack on the grave of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding father of Bangladesh. But in a cruel irony, it is the state itself that desecrated his legacy — not with words, but with bloodshed.
Gopalganj, revered as Mujib’s birthplace, became a site of horror, not because of alleged agitators, but due to the state’s deliberate use of military force against its own citizens. The sacred ground of Bangladeshi political heritage was defiled not by the youth opposition, but by those sworn to protect it.
State-Sanctioned Cover-Up and Social Media Blackout
No post-mortems were conducted. No army personnel were harmed. No official press conferences were held. Social media videos, however, tell a chilling story.
In one widely circulated clip, an army officer is heard commanding, “Fire, direct fire, again direct fire!” The instruction was not to restrain or disperse, but to kill. The absence of injuries among military personnel or NCP activists also casts serious doubt on claims of a violent mob.
Eyewitnesses confirm that several of the victims were not political activists but ordinary citizens caught in the crossfire of state terror. Labeling them all as members of the Awami League or the NCP is a calculated attempt to blur public perception and avoid accountability.
The Shadow Figures: Advisors Behind the Curtain
The brutality in Gopalganj wasn’t merely a rogue army operation — it was a fully coordinated act involving top civilian advisors. Notable among them are:
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Asif Mahmud Bhuiyan Sajib, Advisor for LGRD and Youth & Sports
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Asif Nazrul, Law Advisor
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Jahangir Alam Choudhury, Home Affairs Advisor
These individuals were allegedly present in a police control room during the operation. Asif Mahmud even posted on Facebook:
“Curfew has been imposed… The terrorists of the banned organization will be crushed. Everything is being monitored…”
Such statements confirm premeditation. The declaration of a curfew paired with a shoot-on-sight directive shows that this was not law enforcement — it was war against civilians.
The NCP: The King’s Party or a Manufactured Threat?
Though unregistered, the National Citizen Party (NCP) is increasingly seen as the “King’s Party,” allegedly founded and protected by Dr. Yunus himself. Despite its unofficial status, it enjoys immunity and state sponsorship — a dangerous precedent that erodes democracy and fairness.
This dual role — of being both victim and beneficiary — raises serious questions. Is the NCP truly a threat, or is it a tool of the state to justify militarized suppression?
Call for International Accountability
The people of Bangladesh can no longer rely on internal mechanisms to seek justice. An independent inquiry by the current regime is unlikely and untrustworthy. The International Crimes Research Foundation has already filed a report with the United Nations Ethical Office, labeling the attack as genocidal.
The global community must not remain silent. The United Nations, ICC, Human Rights Watch, and Amnesty International must press for a transparent international investigation. Sanctions, diplomatic pressure, and legal prosecution should follow if those responsible refuse to cooperate.
Final Words: Silence Is Complicity
The massacre in Gopalganj is not just a Bangladeshi crisis — it is a human rights emergency. Twenty-four lives were lost, hundreds injured, and a nation’s dignity was shredded.
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The perpetrators walk free. The victims lie buried — some without names, others without justice.
History will remember this day, and history will remember those who remained silent.
