How are peace and unrest established?

Opinion

The political history of Bangladesh has taught us time and again that to win the support of the people in any region, the very first requirement is to show genuine respect for the people of that region, to understand their sentiments, and to be sensitive to their deeply held beliefs and ideals. But what unfolded in Gopalganj on 16 July 2025 at the hands of the National Citizens’ Party (NCP) was the exact opposite of these principles.

When the NCP, widely seen as the interim government–backed King’s Party, entered Gopalganj, they unleashed a horrific wave of unrest and violence that shook the district to its core. In the hours and days that followed, one after another, scenes of chaos, deadly clashes, and tragic killings scarred the streets of Gopalganj. Why did this happen? Because the people of Gopalganj rose in unison and rejected them outright. They refused to embrace the NCP the way they had once extended a grudging acceptance to leaders like Tarique Rahman. And the reason behind this rejection was painfully clear: the language, tactics, and rhetoric the NCP brought with them were alienating, offensive, and provocative.

Although the NCP had declared a nationwide program under the banner of the “July March,” their campaign in Gopalganj bore a different and much more sinister name: “March to Gopalganj,” which in effect carried the message of destroying the local political identity. But when you enter a region and attack the very ideals that its people hold dear, when you mock their beliefs and threaten to erase their history, can you really expect anything but resistance? Many NCP leaders openly and repeatedly declared that they would “bury Mujibism” in Gopalganj, bulldoze the tomb of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and eradicate the legacy of the man whom most of Gopalganj still regards as a beloved son of their soil. After issuing such vile and inflammatory threats, did they genuinely expect the people of Gopalganj to greet them with garlands and applause?

To me, this episode stands out as one of the most glaring and tragic examples of political shortsightedness in our nation’s history. The NCP marched into a district where nearly every household continues to cherish the ideals of Bangabandhu, yet they chose to insult that legacy, to threaten to wipe it out, and then somehow believed they could win over the hearts of the people. That is neither a wise nor a rational political strategy.

There are countless peaceful and dignified ways to win over people. Respect, dialogue, patience, and tolerance these are the true tools of politics and leadership. Our own history offers many lessons showing that even an opposing ideology can find space in the political landscape if it acknowledges people’s emotions and treats their values with respect. When Tarique Rahman, the unacknowledged leader of the BNP, came to Gopalganj in 2001, despite his party’s ideological differences with the Awami League, he began his visit by offering prayers for Bangabandhu at his grave, asking for his forgiveness. That single gesture of respect softened the hearts of many locals and allowed him to be seen as a political rival, not as a mortal enemy.

Image: Tarique Rahman came to Gopalganj by offering prayers for Bangabandhu at his grave.

But the NCP chose the opposite path. Today, their leaders and cadres were forced to leave Gopalganj under heavy military protection, riding armored personnel carriers as angry crowds surrounded them. Yet, even after this humiliating episode, instead of introspection and humility, they continue issuing threats, promising to make Gopalganj “terror-free,” vowing to carry out more “violent resistance.” The interim government itself has echoed this bellicose rhetoric, declaring that it will break the Awami League’s “backbone” in Gopalganj through joint operations and suppress the local opposition with force.

But the fundamental question remains: can you ever win the hearts of the people through bloodshed and intimidation? Ask the people of Gopalganj again: will they ever vote for those who humiliated their beliefs, desecrated their ideals, and drenched their streets in blood? If you truly want to establish peace and legitimacy, you must first win a place in people’s hearts. Through arrogance, violence, and coercion, no political party can build enduring legitimacy. The path of respect and peace remains the only path that is just, sustainable, and ultimately victorious.

–Tasin Mahdi
A devoted knowledge seeker based in Dhaka, Bangladesh, exhibits a profound commitment to the betterment of his home nation and a keen interest in international policy.