As the 13th National Parliamentary Election draws nearer, fears of electoral violence are intensifying. The election schedule is expected to be announced within the first week of next month or in about a month’s time. However, informal campaigning has already begun, and around 11 people have reportedly been killed in election-related violence — 10 of them in October alone.
Just two days after BNP announced its list of candidates, gunfire erupted during a campaign event in the Hamzarbagh area of Chattogram City on Wednesday night. BNP’s potential candidate for Chattogram-8, Ershad Ullah, along with five others, sustained bullet injuries, while a man named Sarwar Hossain Babla (43), known locally as a “notorious criminal,” was killed. That same night, at least five others were injured in a clash between two BNP factions in Raozan. Authorities, however, claim the incident was more related to gang rivalry than electoral violence.
Speaking about the situation, Police Headquarters AIG (Media) A.H.M. Shahadat Hossain told the media, “The police are making every effort to prevent violence. We are working to control pre-, during-, and post-election violence, with a special focus on recovering illegal firearms.”
It is noteworthy that during the mass uprising, a large number of firearms were looted from law enforcement agencies, and many licenses were issued. Most of those weapons remain unaccounted for.
According to reports from human rights organizations and media outlets, none of Bangladesh’s eight parliamentary elections since 1991 have been free of violence. Local government elections have seen even higher levels of brutality.
The 9th parliamentary election, held on December 29, 2008, under a military-backed caretaker government, saw comparatively less violence, but the political climate leading up to it was tense. On October 28, 2006, widespread clashes broke out when Awami League leader Sheikh Hasina’s rally coincided with pre-scheduled gatherings of BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami, resulting in at least 40 deaths, including six Jamaat activists.
The most violent election occurred on February 15, 1996, when the opposition parties boycotted the polls, leading to the deaths of 141 people. The subsequent election on June 12 that year saw three people killed on voting day.
According to human rights data, 10 people were killed in October alone in this year’s pre-election violence. Experts warn that the trend poses a serious threat to political stability and democratic values.
The Human Rights Support Society (HRSS) reported that in October, at least 64 incidents of political violence left 10 people dead and over 500 injured.
Human rights activist Abu Ahmed Faizul Kabir told the media, “Nomination and campaigning are part of democracy, but the current wave of violence is deeply concerning. Political parties must restrain their activists and take both organizational and legal action against those involved.”
Experts noted that violence tends to escalate throughout the election period—from the announcement of the schedule to campaigning, polling, and the aftermath.
Past records show 18 people were killed in 1991, 141 in February 1996, over 50 in 2001, and 21 in 2014. The 2018 election witnessed 22 deaths and more than 2,000 injuries during the official campaign period.
According to Human Rights Watch, between December 9 and 12, 2018, 47 incidents of violence were reported. BNP claimed that nearly 13,000 of its activists were injured and over 15,000 arrested during that election.
During the 2024 parliamentary election, at least 18 people were killed and over 2,200 injured, according to HRSS.
Experts believe that political intolerance, distrust among parties, the quest for dominance, and the easy availability of illegal firearms are key drivers of electoral violence. Weak law enforcement, delayed justice, and partisan actions further fuel the problem. Such violence not only undermines democracy but also disrupts the economy and weakens social cohesion.
TSN