Bangladesh is bracing for its first genuinely competitive election since the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, with a stark warning: campaigning has become deadly. The country's fragile peace is being tested as violence and intimidation escalate amidst heated political rivalries.
The latest fatality was Azizur Rahman Musabbir, a BNP activist shot dead on January 7. For many, including Kazi Shawon Alam, the BNP leader who knew Musabbir, the killing feels personal. The two had been jailed together four times under Hasina's government, which was accused of brutal crackdowns on opposition.
Despite a perceived shift towards democracy since Hasina's ouster, Bangladesh is still grappling with a history of election-related violence. Over 15 years, politicians and activists have lost their lives in violent clashes, with the recent surge in targeted killings and street battles sparking fears of a return to the dark days of the past.
The BNP has been at odds with Jamaat-e-Islami over parliamentary seats, leading to clashes that have spilled onto the streets. Demonstrators have hurled stones at police, while rival activists have exchanged gunfire. The situation is made worse by the presence of illegal firearms in some areas, where gunmen shot and killed 16-year-old Sharif Osman Hadi last month.
The government has promised extra security measures, including deploying over 900,000 personnel to polling stations. However, concerns remain about the credibility of the February 12 vote, as election watchdogs warn that intolerance is rising and history is unlikely to be forgotten easily.
As the country hurtles towards what could be its first genuinely free and fair election in decades, fears are growing that violence will only increase before the polls close. "We don't want killings or confrontation with anyone," Shawon said. But for many Bangladeshis, fear seems inevitable - a familiar history of violence and intimidation hangs over the election like a specter.
The latest fatality was Azizur Rahman Musabbir, a BNP activist shot dead on January 7. For many, including Kazi Shawon Alam, the BNP leader who knew Musabbir, the killing feels personal. The two had been jailed together four times under Hasina's government, which was accused of brutal crackdowns on opposition.
Despite a perceived shift towards democracy since Hasina's ouster, Bangladesh is still grappling with a history of election-related violence. Over 15 years, politicians and activists have lost their lives in violent clashes, with the recent surge in targeted killings and street battles sparking fears of a return to the dark days of the past.
The BNP has been at odds with Jamaat-e-Islami over parliamentary seats, leading to clashes that have spilled onto the streets. Demonstrators have hurled stones at police, while rival activists have exchanged gunfire. The situation is made worse by the presence of illegal firearms in some areas, where gunmen shot and killed 16-year-old Sharif Osman Hadi last month.
The government has promised extra security measures, including deploying over 900,000 personnel to polling stations. However, concerns remain about the credibility of the February 12 vote, as election watchdogs warn that intolerance is rising and history is unlikely to be forgotten easily.
As the country hurtles towards what could be its first genuinely free and fair election in decades, fears are growing that violence will only increase before the polls close. "We don't want killings or confrontation with anyone," Shawon said. But for many Bangladeshis, fear seems inevitable - a familiar history of violence and intimidation hangs over the election like a specter.
... It's like they're expecting us to forget all the troubles from the past? The thought of 900,000 security personnel is a good start, but I worry it might not be enough to prevent things from getting out of hand. And honestly, the whole situation feels so... messy 
. Can't we just have a peaceful and fair election for once? It's like they're saying "peace at any cost" 
... or should I say, "security at any cost"? 
Either way, it's not exactly reassuring to see violence and intimidation escalating amidst the campaigning.
. How can anyone trust the process when you've got groups like Jamaat-e-Islami stirring up tension? The youth is getting caught in the middle, what's gonna happen to them? It's not looking good for Bangladesh's democracy future 
.
. But for now, it's hard not to feel like things could get really ugly before February 12th 
can't believe we're seeing this again... 15 yrs after Hasina was ousted, it feels like we're right back where we started... violence & intimidation are escalating & innocent ppl r getting killed 
i feel bad for azizur rahman musabbir's family, he was just trying to exercise his right to vote like everyone else in a democracy 
. the fact that history is repeating itself and people are worried about the credibility of the election is really concerning 
. i hope something changes soon and the voting process can be safe and peaceful for everyone involved 
.
The history of violence in Bangladesh isn't exactly inspiring, but at the same time, it's hard not to feel like this is an opportunity for real change to happen 