With the national parliamentary elections just five days away, law enforcement agencies across Bangladesh are intensifying measures to curb electoral violence. Tensions flared recently in Munshiganj Sadar’s Munshikandi area when supporters of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) clashed with supporters of a rebel candidate during a shooting incident. Police have so far identified four individuals involved, including Ekram Dewan, who is listed on the intelligence agencies’ ‘shooter’ roster. As of Monday, he remains at large.
High-profile offenders continue to pose a security threat. Notably, Sheikh Mohammad Aslam, also known as Sweden Aslam, faces 22 criminal cases, including nine for murder. After serving a 20-year sentence, he was released on bail on 4 September 2024, yet has returned to the list of armed criminals. Additionally, Tariq Saif Mamun, a notorious figure from Old Dhaka, was fatally shot during a confrontation with a rival, Roni, at the National Medical Institute Hospital. Roni remains evading arrest.
Under directives from the Police Headquarters, a nationwide list of 3,000 armed and violent offenders has been compiled. The roster includes 352 designated ‘shooters’ and 124 ‘militants’. Other infamous criminals on the list include Imamul Hossain (Pichchi Helal), Sanjidul Islam (Eman), S M Arman, and Khorshed Alam (Freedom Rasu).
Police aim to prevent disorder and violence at polling centres. A Police HQ spokesperson, A.H.M. Shahadat Hossain, stated, “High-risk individuals are under constant surveillance based on prior criminal records and intelligence inputs. All operations are fully lawful and impartial.”
The regional distribution of armed criminals is as follows:
| Region/City | Number of Armed Criminals |
|---|---|
| Dhaka Metropolitan | 115 |
| Chattogram Metropolitan | 180 |
| Khulna Metropolitan | 42 |
| Rajshahi Metropolitan | 40 |
| Barishal Metropolitan | 12 |
| Gazipur Metropolitan | 20 |
| Sylhet Metropolitan | 90 |
| Other 64 districts | ~2,500 |
Priority is being given to apprehending fugitives, while individuals released on bail remain under close observation. Local police stations and intelligence units are conducting targeted operations, focusing on shooters and militants to prevent clashes arising from local disputes.
For instance, in the Chattogram division alone, 15 murders were reported in the first 36 days of this year—a sharp increase compared with the previous 13 months. Of these, 10 incidents were linked to internal BNP conflicts. Inspector General of Police Baharul Alam confirmed, “High-risk individuals have been identified and systematic steps are underway to safeguard the election environment.”
Ultimately, the police emphasise a single objective: ensuring free, fair, and peaceful elections throughout the country.