Violence must not supplant the ballot in February

The alarming rise in political violence across Bangladesh, as highlighted in a report published by The New Nation on Friday, presents a deeply concerning portrait of a country approaching a critical juncture ahead of its 13th national parliamentary election scheduled for 12 February.

A spate of shootings, intimidation and targeted killings has sharply deteriorated the pre-election environment, raising serious doubts over the feasibility of conducting a peaceful, inclusive and credible poll.

The most recent and disturbing incident — the fatal shooting of Azizur Rahman Musabbir, a former general secretary of the Swechchhasebak Dal, in Dhaka’s Tejturi Bazar — starkly illustrates the prevailing climate of impunity. This killing follows a series of violent attacks, including the near-fatal assault on National Citizen Party activist Habib Chowdhury in Gazipur and the murder of a Jubo Dal leader in Chattogram.

According to some human rights organisations, 2025 alone has witnessed at least 914 incidents of political violence, leaving 133 people dead and more than 7,500 injured.

These figures reveal a disturbing and persistent pattern of politically motivated attacks, frequently accompanied by threats and acts of intimidation, such as the chilling delivery of a burial shroud to a parliamentary aspirant in Cox’s Bazar. Compounding the crisis is the continued circulation of looted firearms from the unrest of August 2024, with authorities confirming that approximately 15 per cent of stolen weapons and 30 per cent of ammunition remain unrecovered. Such weapons have only intensified the cycle of violence and fear.

Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Masud has correctly warned that unchecked violence poses a serious threat to the electoral atmosphere. Besides, civil society groups continue to demand accountability, particularly in light of previous failures, including the killing of activist Sharif Osman Hadi, which underscored glaring gaps in law enforcement and justice delivery.

Bangladesh’s democratic future now stands on a knife-edge. Swift and impartial justice for perpetrators, the urgent recovery of illegal arms and genuine efforts to ensure a level political playing field are not optional — they are essential. Without decisive action, public confidence will continue to erode, threatening not only the credibility of the forthcoming election but also the broader stability of the nation.

The interim government must act with urgency and resolve to ensure that 12 February becomes a moment of democratic renewal rather than a symbol of institutional failure. Failure to do so risks deepening public disillusionment and inviting consequences far more damaging than a flawed election.