Post-Election Violence Claims One Life

In Bagerhat’s Kachua Upazila, post-election violence between supporters of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and an independent candidate has tragically claimed the life of 29-year-old Osman Sardar. He succumbed to his injuries on Saturday (14 February) at 11:30 a.m. while undergoing treatment at Khulna Medical College Hospital.

The incident occurred on Friday evening (13 February) in Chitabari village of Dhopakhali Union, Kachua, where tensions escalated between rival political factions following the parliamentary elections. The clash left a total of ten people from both sides injured, including Osman Sardar.

Osman, a resident of Parnowapara village in Bagerhat Sadar Upazila and the son of Shahjahan Sardar, was known to be a supporter of the independent candidate. His elder brother, Enamul Kabir Sardar, described the sequence of events: “Supporters of the Dhanshish symbol were searching for the opposing party’s supporters. During the search, my brother and a few others had an altercation with them. At one point, they struck my brother on the head with a machete. He was initially taken to Bagerhat Sadar Hospital, but due to the severity of his injuries, doctors transferred him to Khulna Medical College Hospital. Sadly, he was pronounced dead at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday.”

Asad Khan, president of the Tanti faction in Gotapara Union, stated that their group had been participating in a small victory procession and social gathering when they were unexpectedly attacked. “We were merely walking and having tea while celebrating our leader’s efforts in nation-building. Despite Dhanshish losing in Bagerhat, our leader, Tarique Rahman, continues his work for the state. Suddenly, the rival group armed with local weapons attacked us. We did not initiate any violence; we were victims,” he said.

Bagerhat Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge, Md. Masum Khan, confirmed Osman’s death and said, “Police have been deployed to the area. Investigations are underway to determine the cause of the clash and identify those responsible.”

The post-election tensions follow the parliamentary contest in Bagerhat-2 (Sadar-Kachua) constituency. BNP’s nominated candidate, Sheikh Mohammad Zakir Hossain, and former district BNP president and ex-MP M.A.H. Selim, who contested as a rebel BNP candidate, were both defeated by a large margin by Jamaat-e-Islami’s nominee, Sheikh Monjurul Haque Rahad.

Political analysts note that the violence reflects rising tensions between rival factions, particularly in areas where multiple candidates from the same party contested. Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely to prevent further escalation and ensure local security.