In Madaripur’s Gopalpur area, a group of Awami League activists, led by former upazila chairman Mir Golam Faruk, blocked the Dhaka-Barishal highway early Sunday by burning tires and placing trees across the road. The blockade caused severe traffic disruption and suffering for passengers and drivers. According to police, the activists fled upon sensing law enforcement’s presence. Later, local BNP-Jamaat leaders, along with the fire service and highway police, removed the trees and cleared the road, restoring normal traffic flow by around 7:30 a.m. The incident followed earlier threats from Awami League members to paralyze the southern region if the verdict in Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s case was announced on November 17. Authorities confirmed that the situation was brought under control without major clashes or casualties.