Dhaka, July 20 -- Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (Retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury on Sunday stated that the army had to open fire in Gopalganj due to the urgent and deteriorating situation on the ground at the time.

"The situation required immediate action," he told reporters following a meeting of the core committee on law and order and security forces held at the Secretariat.

He further said that Section 144, imposed in the district after violent clashes between Awami League supporters and law enforcement personnel, would be lifted in phases.

The violence in Gopalganj erupted when Awami League activists and members of its banned student front, the Chhatra League, reportedly attacked a rally organized by the Nationalist Citizens' Platfo...