Gunshot to Hadi: A serious concern over the law and order during elections

There is no scope to view the gunshot attack on Sharif Osman Hadi as an ‘isolated incident’. It is a message.

And the message is very simple. Strike the voice that is a little different in the political arena, and not directly in the shadow of the big parties. Less risk, more gain.

Although some government policymakers insisted that the law and order situation would improve after the election schedule was announced.

But that did not happen. Shooting on Hadi, spokesperson for the Inqilab Mancha and an independent candidate for Dhaka-8 constituency on Friday is proof of that.

His condition is critical. He was transferred from Dhaka Medical College Hospital to Evercare Hospital.

The incident took place in the capital’s Vijayanagar area under Paltan police station in broad daylight. Police say the motorcyclist shot and fled.

No matter what his political views are, it is unthinkable that he would be the victim of such a terrorist attack.

Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin announced the election schedule on Thursday night.

The thirteenth parliamentary election and referendum will be held simultaneously on February 12.

The excitement and enthusiasm that should have been there in the public mind after the announcement of the schedule has been dampened by this incident.

There is now a sense of gloom all around.The CEC called on the countrymen to rise above all fears and exercise their right to vote without hesitation.

At the same time, he also emphasized on creating a safe and festive atmosphere.

But if a candidate is shot while campaigning, how can the election are held in a festive atmosphere?

According to the human rights organization — Human Rights Support Society (HRSS) — at least 756 political clashes have occurred in the first 10 months of this year.

117 people have been killed and at least 6,092 injured. Most of the violence occurred due to the expansion of dominance, political vendetta, extortion, and occupation of various establishments.

Meanwhile, the person who opened fire at the public campaign meeting of the BNP nominated candidate in Chittagong-8 constituency has not been identified even after a month.

Police have initially confirmed that a trained shooter was involved in the incident that killed one person and injured a BNP candidate.

Did the sound of gunfire the day after the schedule was announced just hurt one person, or did it hurt the election, peace, and the future opportunity to return to the path of democracy? The answer to this is not very difficult. It is a conscious attack on Bangladesh’s democratic journey.