Human Rights Group Blames BNP-Linked Factions for Election Violence in Bangladesh

Dhaka, August 11: Violence control remains a significant concern ahead of the upcoming national elections in Bangladesh. This worry stems from violent incidents that occurred during and after recent elections. Local media reports indicate that the factions most active in electoral violence are linked to the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).

The human rights group ‘Odhikar’ presented a monitoring report revealing that the BNP and its affiliates were involved in 52% of violent activities before the elections, 53% on polling day, and 75% after the elections.

According to a report by the well-known newspaper The Daily Star, Jamaat-e-Islami and its allies accounted for 15% of incidents before the elections, 13% on polling day, and 9% afterward.

These findings were shared during a discussion held at the Center on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP) in Dhaka on Monday. The report highlights that violent and intimidating incidents continued locally during the 2026 election campaign.

Among all districts in Bangladesh, Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Bhola, Mymensingh, and Dhaka emerged as major hotspots, where intimidation was prevalent. Post-election violence, property damage, and murders were notably higher, with 62 incidents recorded before the elections.

Chattogram reported the highest number of incidents at 11, followed by Cox’s Bazar with eight. Dhaka and Mymensingh each had five incidents, while Sirajganj recorded four. Authorities took action in 34 of the 62 pre-election incidents, but no action was taken in 28 cases.

Odhikar documented 32 incidents across 19 electoral constituencies on voting day, with Mymensingh witnessing seven and Bhola six incidents. The Daily Star reported four incidents in Chattogram and three each in Cox’s Bazar and Feni.

Of the 32 incidents, 17 involved the BNP and its allies, while four included Jamaat and its associates. Two incidents involved activists from the Islamic Movement of Bangladesh. The report noted that there was no police action in 11 cases, and the status of action in seven cases remains unclear.

Last month, Odhikar reported that between April and June this year, 33 people were killed in mob lynching incidents in Bangladesh, while political violence claimed 41 lives and injured 970 across the country.