Staff Correspondent

Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury on Thursday said those responsible for the violence in Gopalganj will be arrested and no mercy will be shown to them.

"Those responsible for the incidents in Gopalganj will be brought to justice. There is no question of granting them impunity," he told reporters at the Secretariat when asked about Wednesday’s violence in Gopalganj.

When asked whether intelligence agencies had any prior information about the incident, the adviser said, “The intelligence agencies had some information, but they were not aware of the extent of the violence that would occur.”

Referring to allegations from NCP leaders that law enforcement agencies failed to control the situation, the adviser said, “Anyone can say anything. Everyone is allowed to express their own opinions.”

Responding to a query on what measures would be taken to prevent such incidents in the future, he said, “All necessary precautionary measures will be taken to ensure recurrence of such incidents, although the situation is currently under control.”

Earlier, on Wednesday, at least four people were killed and several others injured in clashes between police and activists of Awami League and its associate bodies over a rally of the National Citizen Party (NCP) in Gopalganj.

Meanwhile, the government imposed a curfew in Gopalganj district amid heightened tensions over clashes between police and Awami League activists over an NCP rally.

The curfew will remain in force from 8pm on Wednesday to 6pm on Thursday, according to the Chief Adviser’s press wing.

Meanwhile, NCP announced a countrywide protest rally on Thursday in response to the attack on its rally in Gopalganj.

NCP Convener Nahid Islam made the announcement at a press conference held at Khulna Press Club on Wednesday night.