Violence Escalates in Bangladesh as General Election Approaches
The nationwide vote—the nation's first since mass protests forced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from power in 2024—unfolds against a backdrop of institutional fragility and shattered political coalitions.
Between Dec. 11, when election dates were formally announced, and Jan. 16, at least 16 political figures and activists lost their lives in election-related violence, local media outlets report.
Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK), a domestic human rights organization, documented 401 separate political violence incidents throughout the previous year, resulting in 102 fatalities and 4,744 injuries.
Law enforcement records reveal a troubling security gap: 5,763 weapons were seized during the uprising, with 1,333 firearms remaining unaccounted for—a critical vulnerability as voting day approaches.
Current Electoral Landscape
An interim administration is overseeing the electoral process after Hasina's government disintegrated in August 2024.
Citizens will simultaneously select parliamentary representatives and approve constitutional reforms designed to block future authoritarian governance.
The political battlefield features three primary contenders: the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Jamaat-e-Islami, and the National Citizens Party (NCP)—established by student organizers who spearheaded the anti-Hasina resistance, widely recognized as the July Uprising.
Hasina's Awami League has been barred from ballot participation by transitional authorities.
Former allies from the uprising movement now compete as adversaries, elevating the electoral stakes around reform implementation, governmental legitimacy, and state apparatus control.
Approximately 127 million eligible voters are anticipated to participate, representing an increase from 119.6 million registered in 2024.
On Feb. 12, voters will determine 300 parliamentary positions from nearly 2,000 contenders, with 151 seats required for majority governance.
Following the Jan. 22 campaign launch, analysts attribute the volatile atmosphere in the South Asian nation to "ideological rivalries and political polarization."
Violence Continues Unabated
Specialists observe that political aggression escalates alongside campaign momentum.
"Violence is a feature of elections in Bangladesh," stated Thomas Kean, senior consultant on Myanmar and Bangladesh for the International Crisis Group.
"While it is unfortunate to see political conflict increase as the election approaches, we should not be entirely surprised," Kean told media.
Multiple elements fuel this aggression, he explained, including "ideological rivalries and political polarization."
The nation reeled last month from the killing of Sharif Osman Hadi, a youth organizer who gained national recognition during 2024 demonstrations and was campaigning for a parliamentary position in central Dhaka.
"According to police, some of Hadi's alleged killers were connected to the Awami League -- presumably they were hoping to disrupt the election, as well as get revenge for his anti-Awami League activism," Kean said.
"But the quest for power and the trappings that come with it also drive violence. In some cases, conflict occurs between candidates from rival parties in hotly contested areas," he added.
"Monitoring groups say that most of the political violence under the interim government has actually been due to turf wars between members of the BNP," he noted, referencing numerous dissident BNP candidates now competing as independents after being denied official party endorsement.
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
