, July 20 -- Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury on Sunday said the army was compelled to open fire in Gopalganj due to the prevailing situation on the ground at the time.

"The action had to be taken based on the situation at that moment," he told reporters after a meeting of the core committee on law and order and security forces at the Secretariat.

Jahangir Alam said that the emergency Section 144, imposed in the district following clashes between Awami League activists and law enforcement, would be lifted gradually.

Five people were killed and scores injured when activists of the Awami League and its banned student wing, Chhatra League, reportedly carried out attacks on an NCP rally in Gopalganj.

25 arrest...