8 political killings since polls schedule: ASK
With a little over a month left before the 13th general election, political leaders and activists are increasingly falling victim to targeted killings.
The violence began soon after the election schedule was announced on December 11 and has continued even in crowded areas, often involving firearms.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. These escalating political killings are fuelling widespread fear and panic, raising serious concerns about law and order.
Following the brazen attack on Sharif Osman Bin Hadi, spokesperson for Inqilab Moncho and an independent MP aspirant from Dhaka-8, the government on December 13 decided to provide personal security to individuals who played key roles in the July uprising, as well as high-profile political figures.
The government has also offered firearm licences to candidates in the upcoming parliamentary election to ensure their security. Despite these measures, political killings continue.
According to Ain o Salish Kendra and media reports, at least eight political killings have occurred since December 11.
Human Rights Support Society data shows 60 incidents of political violence in December alone, leaving four dead and 528 injured. At least 10 attacks on leaders and activists resulted in 10 deaths, including three from the Awami League, four from the BNP, and one from Jamaat-e-Islami.
Experts have expressed concern over the rising violence and called for urgent law enforcement action to curb the growing insecurity.
Rights activist Nur Khan Liton said that while the reasons behind the killings are varied, two key trends are emerging: political party leaders and activists and people of minority communities are being targeted.
He expressed concern that such incidents are still occurring, including the most recent one in the capital on Wednesday night, reflecting weaknesses in law and order.
Liton criticised the measures taken so far, calling them insufficient and pointing to weak responses from law enforcement.
He also raised concerns about the growing mob culture, where organised groups continue to act in their own interests.
Former inspector general of police Muhammad Nurul Huda, however, said he doesn’t see any major problem, noting that similar situations have occurred before past elections.
He acknowledged weaknesses in the police force but said incidents on the scale of the July uprising, which left around 1,200 dead, are unprecedented.
“It’s natural for the police to be concerned after such events,” he said. “However, 20,000 to 25,000 new personnel have joined, and they have been urged to perform their duties properly, so some positive impact is expected.”
KILLINGS
The latest incident took place near the Super Star Hotel in Dhaka’s Karwan Bazar around 8:30pm, when unidentified assailants shot dead former Swechchhasebak Dal leader Azizur Rahman Musabbir and injured another man.
Two days back, on January 5, Jane Alam Sikder, 48, a former leader of BNP’s youth wing, was shot dead by assailants on a motorcycle in the Rausha area of Chattogram.
The incident took place just 500 metres from a police investigation centre.
Similarly, on January 3, another BNP leader, Alamgir Hossain, 55, was gunned down in Jashore. Alamgir was on his way home when assailants attacked him, shooting him in the head.
Sharif Osman Bin Hadi, an independent MP aspirant from Dhaka-8 and spokesperson for Inqilab Moncho, was shot on December 12. He died while undergoing treatment in Singapore on December 18, sparking outrage and protests across the country.
On December 24, a Chhatra Dal activist was killed in Bhola when he was travelling to Dhaka to join an event organised to mark the return of BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman.
The police reported that Rizwan Amin Sifat, 25, was attacked by armed assailants who hacked him to death in the Rajapur area of the district.
On December 26, Saiful Sardar, 45, a BNP leader, was hacked to death in Alfadanga, Faridpur, amidst a local power struggle.
Also, on December 24, Farid Sarkar, 41, a leader of the Jatiyatabadi Social Cultural Forum, was murdered in the Gosinga area of Sreepur, Gazipur.
On December 17, Biru Mandal, 48, a BNP leader in Ishwardi, was shot dead over an alleged land dispute.
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