A wave of deadly violence has swept through Bangladesh following its contentious national elections, as detailed in a comprehensive report by rights watchdog Odhikar. From February 13 to 28, 104 violent episodes claimed 10 lives and injured 476 across the country, underscoring deep political divisions and weak law enforcement.
Published Thursday via the ‘Assistance to Restore Democracy’ initiative, backed by the European Partnership for Democracy, the findings highlight BNP internal rivalries as a major trigger. Accounting for 29 incidents (28%), these feuds resulted in four deaths and 136 injuries, ensnaring BNP members, Jamaat supporters, Awami League loyalists, independent candidates’ aides, and ordinary citizens.
Geographically, Khulna Division suffered the most with three killed and 191 hurt. Two deaths each occurred in Rajshahi and Barishal; Dhaka had one death alongside 90 injuries; single fatalities marked Chittagong and Mymensingh. Through fieldwork in 50 constituencies, Odhikar verified 32 incidents in 17 locations—five deaths, 41 wounded—with Khulna-3 seeing the highest injuries.
The violence included assaults, threats, and vandalism, notably an assault on a Sylhet Hindu temple. While 44% prompted some official intervention like case filings or arrests, others saw minimal action. Odhikar calls for swift, unbiased investigations, enhanced protections for at-risk communities, rapid response mechanisms, and better party dispute resolution to safeguard democracy and public safety.