In a chilling escalation of electoral violence, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) candidate for Natore-3 (Singra), Anwar Hossain, has issued a desperate plea for state protection. The formal appeal follows the gruesome murder of one of his primary campaign organisers, an event that has cast a pall of fear over the constituency as the 13th National Parliamentary Election approaches.
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A Campaign Marred by Bloodshed
The urgency of the candidate’s request stems from the slaying of Rezaul Karim, a local leader of the Zia Parishad and a linchpin of the BNP’s grassroots machinery. On the night of Wednesday, 21 January 2026, Karim was ambushed at Kumarpura Kadamtala in the Kalam Union. Assailants reportedly slit his throat in a targeted attack that bore the hallmarks of political assassination.
Despite the severity of the crime, police have yet to apprehend any suspects. “I am constantly on the move, visiting remote villages to seek votes, while the killers remain at large,” Mr Hossain told reporters. He submitted a written request for a personal security detail to the District Returning Officer, Asma Shahin, on Thursday evening. However, as of Friday afternoon, he claimed to have received no official confirmation of protection.
Security Assessment: Natore-3 (Singra)
| Feature | Status / Detail |
| Threat Level | High (Following homicide of campaign staff) |
| Victim | Rezaul Karim (Zia Parishad Activist) |
| Police Action | No arrests made to date; investigation ongoing |
| Requested Security | Armed Personal Guard / Police Escort |
| Granted Security | Plainclothes surveillance and general area patrols |
| Key Risks | Retaliatory violence and intimidation of voters |
The Administrative Response
The District Returning Officer’s office confirmed that the candidate’s petition was immediately redirected to the Superintendent of Police (SP) for an urgent threat evaluation. While the state acknowledges the danger, the response has been focused on broader area security rather than individual protection.
Ifte Khair Alam, the Additional Superintendent of Police (Administration), explained that providing personal bodyguards to every candidate is logistically unfeasible. “We have already fortified the security grid in the Singra region,” he stated. “While we cannot assign a dedicated police escort to Mr Hossain at this stage, we have deployed undercover officers to monitor his rallies. We are maintaining a high-visibility presence in the villages he visits.”
Democracy Under Threat
The murder in Natore-3 is being viewed by political analysts as a litmus test for the interim government’s ability to conduct a “free and fair” poll. The BNP has alleged that the lack of arrests is emboldening “musclemen” associated with rival factions. For Anwar Hossain, the absence of a visible security detail is not just a personal risk, but a deterrent to his supporters who fear they may be the next targets.
As the 12 February polling date nears, the eyes of the nation are on Singra. Whether the administration can transition from “surveillance” to “prevention” may well determine the legitimacy of the electoral process in this volatile constituency.