With just over two weeks remaining until the 13th National Parliament elections on February 12, a series of violent incidents, threats and attacks on candidates and law enforcement personnel have raised fresh concerns about election-time security across Bangladesh.
Since the start of the campaign, incidents involving shootings, stabbings, vandalism and clashes have been reported in multiple constituencies.
Several candidates have filed General Diaries (GDs) with police stations seeking security, citing threats to their lives and fears of conspiracy.
Among those who recently sought police protection are Advocate Abdullah Al Amin, parliamentary candidate of the National Citizen Party (NCP) for Narayanganj-4; Amir Hamza, Jamaat-e-Islami candidate for Kushtia-3 (Sadar); and senior journalist Md Arifur Rahman Dolan, editor of the daily Dhaka Times, who expressed interest in contesting from Faridpur-1 (Alfadanga-Madhukhali-Boalmari).
Observers say whether the election environment remains peaceful will largely depend on the effectiveness of law enforcement agencies.
On the very first day of campaigning, incidents of shootings, clashes, chases and counter-chases were reported in different parts of the country.
Election camps, microphones, offices, vehicles and even CCTV cameras installed at polling stations have been vandalized or looted in several constituencies.
Many people have been injured, and some have died.
Attacks on candidates, law enforcers
On Tuesday, eggs were thrown at Nasiruddin Patwari, a candidate of the 11-party electoral alliance in the Dhaka-8 constituency, during an event at Habibullah Bahar College in Shantinagar.
Earlier, on Saturday, a GD was filed at Shahbagh Police Station seeking security for the son and brother of Inqilab Manch convener Sharif Osman Hadi, amid fears they could be killed.
The same day, Mohammad Hasan Molla, general secretary of BNP’s Hazratpur Union unit in Keraniganj, died while undergoing treatment at Holy Family Hospital in Dhaka.
On Thursday, police arrested two people with country-made weapons from the election campaign of Jamaat candidate for Dhaka-7, Haji Md Enayetuullah.
Enayetuullah claimed the suspects intended to kill him.
In Munshiganj-3 constituency, supporters of BNP candidate Kamruzzaman Ratan were accused of attacking a procession of supporters of so-called “rebel” candidate Md Mohiuddin on January 23. Mohiuddin said six people were injured.
Earlier, on January 14, an attempt was made to attack NCP candidate Abdullah Al Amin in Narayanganj-4, leaving two party activists injured.
Violence has also targeted law enforcement agencies.
On January 20, a Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) officer was shot dead during an operation in Sitakunda’s Jungle Salimpur area in Chittagong.
Four days later, the main accused, Mohammad Yasin, issued a video threat that went viral on social media.
On Friday, a police officer was hacked and critically injured during a checkpoint search in Haluaghat, Mymensingh. The accused, Md Lyon, was later arrested.
Candidates, voters express concern
Public anxiety has grown over the attacks.
NCP leaders Nasiruddin Patwari and Nahid Islam accused rival BNP figures Mirza Abbas and Tarique Rahman of involvement in the egg-throwing incident, a claim BNP leaders deny.
Mahbub Alam, head of NCP’s election media subcommittee, said Patwari was attacked while attending a cultural event as an invited guest.
Ramna Police Station OC Mohammad Rahat Khan said police were present and attempted to control the situation.
Dhaka-7 voter Shahjahan Kabir Liton told Dhaka Tribune that while he was eager to vote after 17 years, safety remained his primary concern.
“If I feel safe, I will definitely vote,” he said.
Jamaat candidate Amir Hamza said he was forced to file a GD after receiving repeated death threats.
“I have even postponed my waz mahfils,” he said.
Kushtia Model Police Station OC Kabir Hossain Matubbar confirmed the GD was under investigation.
Police assurances, expert warnings
Inspector General of Police Baharul Alam told Dhaka Tribune that law enforcement agencies are fully prepared, with around 1,50,000 police personnel deployed nationwide and two officers assigned to each polling centre.
“The situation is quite normal,” he said. “We believe this election will be the safest in the country’s history.”
He described the killing of the RAB officer and the attack on the policeman as isolated incidents and urged citizens to cooperate with law enforcement.
Crime experts, however, expressed caution.
Professor Muhammad Umar Farooq, chairman of the Department of Criminology and Police Science at Maulana Bhashani University of Science and Technology, warned that violence often escalates as polling day approaches.
“A group is always active to disrupt elections,” he said. “Law enforcement and intelligence agencies must work area-wise, recover illegal weapons and ensure 100% security at polling stations. Without this, free, fair and impartial elections are not possible.”
As campaigning intensifies, the coming days are expected to test the state’s ability to ensure security for candidates, voters and law enforcers alike.
