Gopalganj Violence: UK-Based Body Seeks UN Probe, Wants Fact-Finding Mission In Bangladesh
ICRF claimed that Nationalist Citizen Party rioters launched a premeditated assault with the intent to 'desecrate and demolish' the graveyard of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
The latest streak of deadly violence in Bangladesh's Gopalganj, allegedly orchestrated by members of the hardline Nationalist Citizen Party (NCP), may soon draw international attention.
The UK-based International Crime Research Foundation (ICRF) has formally written to United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, urging a thorough international inquiry into the incident, including asking for a UN-led fact-finding mission.
In its letter to the UN, the ICRF claims that NCP rioters launched a premeditated assault with the intent to 'desecrate and demolish" the graveyard of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding father of Bangladesh, located in Gopalganj. The attack, according to the foundation, became complex when the Bangladesh Army 'was deployed in support of NCP and used lethal weapons to open fire on unarmed civilians" who resisted the attempt by NCP.
Visuals of the forces in Bangladesh opening fire, with superiors giving clear instructions to 'fire on them directly", have gone viral on social media. A grab of an unarmed civilian later identified as Dipto Saha lying dead on the streets of Gopalganj, with a member of Bangladesh Army about to put his boot on his face, has become the face of Gopalganj horror. A purported visual shared by former I&B minister in the Sheikh Hasina government, Md Arafat, shows Bangladesh Army hiding NCP protestors in their military vehicle, exposing how the two are allegedly hand-in-glove.
The violence resulted in the deaths of at least four people and injuries to dozens of others.
ICRF has demanded an independent international investigation into the incident, particularly highlighting the need to examine the role of the Bangladesh Army and other state apparatuses during and after the violence.
'The events of July 16 are not just an attack on a community; they are an attack on the soul of a nation, its history, and its identity. The silence of the international community in this moment would only embolden further violations," the body said in its appeal.
The letter comes amid rising tensions in Bangladesh, where political polarisation and allegations of religious and ethnic persecution have increasingly drawn criticism from rights groups and civil society.
The government is yet to release an official statement regarding ICRF's submission or the demand for a UN inquiry.
If the UN were to respond positively, it could mark a rare instance of international involvement in a domestic political and communal flashpoint in Bangladesh—particularly one involving the legacy of its founding leader.
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First Published:
July 17, 2025, 15:11 IST
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