00:00Violence broke out in Bangladesh on Wednesday when security forces confronted supporters
00:14of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
00:17A student-led party formed after last year's uprising, which ousted Hasina, marched towards
00:22her hometown Gopal Ganj, a stronghold of her party, Awami League.
00:27Sohail Mullah, a young shop owner, was shot and killed.
00:31His uncle said he wasn't even involved in politics, he just got caught up in the chaos.
00:38My son called me from the railway station and told me Sohail had died in the violence.
00:43I advise my sons to stay where he was and not move as the situation was growing more volatile.
00:50Footage shows crowds of people armed with sticks attacking police officers, torching vehicles
00:57and assaulting members of the National Citizen Party.
01:01What began as a peaceful commemorative rally quickly spiraled into violent street battles.
01:06Authorities imposed curfew in the district, but with protests spreading across the country
01:12and political parties blaming one another for the unrest, Bangladesh is on edge.
01:18Gopal Ganj is a politically sensitive area.
01:20It's where Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the first president of Bangladesh and Hasina's father,
01:25is buried.
01:26Awami League supporters say they are regularly attacked and intimidated and have nowhere to
01:30exercise their right to protest because of all activities of the party and its affiliates
01:35are banned.
01:39The situation in Gopal Ganj is tense and dangerous.
01:42The curfew has been extended.
01:44Security forces are going door to door, harassing and intimidating people.
01:48Even women aren't spared.
01:51The office of the interim leader, Muhammad Yunus, released a statement condemning the attack
01:55as a shameful assault on basic rights that will not go unpunished.
02:02No matter how many obstacles, attacks or violence the Awami League unleashes, members of the National
02:08Citizen Party will continue their rallies.
02:12Home Affairs Advisor Jahangir Alam Chaudhry says law and order has been restored in Gopal
02:17Ganj.
02:18But analysts say that as Bangladesh navigates a volatile political landscape, the violence
02:23raises questions about reconciliation, accountability and the way forward ahead of general election
02:30scheduled for April next year.
02:32Chanvi Chaudhry, Al Jazeera, Dhaka.
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