Sharp rise in violence ahead of Bangladesh polls

New Delhi: With Bangladesh moving closer to its 13th parliamentary election scheduled for February, a sharp rise in violence, including targeted killings and the widespread use of illegal firearms, has sparked growing fear among political parties and prospective candidates across the country.

Reports suggest that killings linked to political rivalry, the struggle for dominance, and personal disputes have escalated, fuelling growing security concerns among ordinary citizens.

Bangladesh's leading daily, Dhaka Tribune, reported that from January to November last year, 3,509 people were killed across Bangladesh.


As per the findings of the Dhaka-based rights group Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK), political violence claimed the lives of 102 people last year, compared to 45 in 2023. Another rights body of Bangladesh, the Human Rights Support Society (HRSS), documented 123 political violence-related deaths last year, up from 96 in 2023. Following the murder of radical Islamist leader Sharif Osman Hadi, who had announced plans to contest the election as an independent candidate from the Dhaka-8 constituency, concerns over security reignited, with political leaders and other key figures reportedly hiring gunmen for protection.

Meanwhile Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Dr Shafiqur Rahman, held a meeting with retired senior military officers in Dhaka on Monday. Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen's recent meeting with Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman has also come under spotlight.

Addressing the retired officers, Dr Shafiqur focused on national security and social responsibility. He praised the military for saving the nation from "certain civil war" during the 2024 uprising and called upon the veterans to help ensure a "fear-free" election. By urging former officers to assist in bringing voters to the booths and protecting the youth, the Jamaat chief is seen as attempting to bridge the historic rift between the Islamist party and the secular military establishment.