Bangladesh Elections Marred by Rising Political Violence and Intimidation

Bangladesh Prepares for Parliamentary Elections Amid Rising Violence

At least 16 political activists have been killed since December’s announcement of the upcoming elections, sparking concerns about a return to violence in the country. Kazi Shawon Alam, a fellow Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) activist, was informed on January 7 that Azizur Rahman Musabbir had been shot dead, confirming his fears about the dangers of campaigning ahead of the February 12 parliamentary elections.

Musabbir’s killing is notable as he had spent time in jail with Shawon four times under the government of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Many Bangladeshis believed that this era of fear had ended with Hasina’s ouster, but violence is surging again ahead of the upcoming vote.

Police have stated that there was no political motive behind Musabbir’s killing, but Shawon expressed concerns that fear does not disappear. The BNP is leading a coalition of 10 like-minded parties, while the Jamaat-e-Islami is heading a separate alliance with 11 parties. Other groups, including the Islami Andolan Bangladesh and the Jatiya Party, are contesting independently.

Since December’s election announcement, at least 16 political activists have been killed, according to local media reports. The most recent victim was Hasan Mollah, a BNP leader who was shot on January 23 while sitting at an election office in Dhaka. His death brings the total number of killings since December to 16.

The Bangladesh Election Commission announced the election schedule on December 11, and the interim government is overseeing a vote that coincides with a referendum on state reforms. The country has approximately 170 million people, with about 120 million eligible to cast ballots in the South Asian nation.

Source: Al Jazeera