Top leaders of the National Citizen Party (NCP), including convener Nahid Islam, member secretary Akhtar Hossain, northern chief coordinator Sarjis Alam, and southern chief coordinator Hasnat Abdullah, were safely evacuated from Gopalganj under military escort on Wednesday, July 16, following violent attacks on their convoy. The evacuation took place after 5:00pm, as confirmed by NCP Joint Member Secretary Mushfique Us Salehin in a statement to BBC Bangla.The convoy, comprising 15 to 16 vehicles, left Gopalganj under stringent security measures amid ongoing tensions in the city. 

Earlier in the day, the NCP’s rally at Municipal Park was disrupted by vandalism, followed by an ambush on their convoy near the Launch Ghat area around 2:30 PM. Alleged supporters of the banned Awami League, Chhatra League, and Juba League were blamed for the attack, which involved brickbats and arson, turning Gopalganj into a battlefield.

A viral video circulating online captured the NCP leaders boarding a military armoured personnel carrier, underscoring the intensity of the security operation. The military’s intervention was critical in ensuring the safe departure of the NCP leadership, which had been trapped in the district Superintendent of Police’s office earlier in the day.

The evacuation marks a tense conclusion to a chaotic day in Gopalganj, with law enforcement continuing efforts to restore order and pursue the attackers.