10 killed, 2,503 injured in election-related violence in 3.5 months: Rights organisation
At least 10 people were killed and 2,503 injured in violence linked to the 13th national parliamentary election between October 2025 and February 14, 2026, the Human Rights Support Society (HRSS) said.
Presenting its “Election and Referendum Observation Report” at a press conference at the Jatiya Press Club today, HRSS Executive Director Md Ijajul Islam said the organisation deployed 565 observers across all 64 districts to monitor the polls held on February 12.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. Observers monitored voting in 1,733 centres across 100 constituencies, while 347 observers remained present during vote counting.
Ijajul alleged that at least 48 observers were denied entry to counting rooms or obstructed by election officials and, in some cases, supporters of candidates, despite legal provisions allowing observer presence during the counting process.
The rights organisation, however, described the polling day itself as "largely peaceful" compared with previous national elections, with no fatalities reported on the day of voting.
Irregularities and polling day incidents
HRSS said preliminary findings indicated irregularities in at least 21 polling centres, including allegations of centre occupation, obstruction of observers, ballot-related irregularities, advance signing and sealing of ballot counterfoils, and failure to publicly display results as required under election rules.
According to a detailed report read out by HRSS Programme Officer Saiful Islam, the organisation recorded 393 incidents of irregularities and clashes nationwide on the polling day.
These included 149 cases of disorder at polling centres, 105 clashes between supporters, 59 allegations of ballot stuffing, and 19 incidents involving the removal of polling agents. There were also 13 cases of negligence by election officials, 18 instances of voter obstruction, six assaults on candidates, three incidents of ballot box snatching, two cases of arson and 31 other irregularities.
A total of 145 people were injured in clashes on polling day, said HRSS.
It also reported 50 arrests, withdrawal of 13 presiding and polling officers, and 55 cases resulting in imprisonment or fines.
Five journalists were injured, voting was cancelled at three centres, and 64 incidents involved the spread of misinformation using artificial intelligence tools, it added.
No deaths were reported on polling day, the organisation said.
Violence before and after the vote
Between October 2025 and February 14, 2026, HRSS said it recorded more than 700 incidents of election-related violence nationwide, leaving 10 people dead and more than 2,500 injured.
At least 34 people suffered bullet injuries, while more than 500 houses, vehicles, businesses, election offices and polling centres were vandalised, looted or set ablaze, it added.
From the announcement of the election schedule on December 11, 2025 to February 11, 2026, HRSS documented 254 violent incidents that left 1,650 people injured and five killed. At least 24 people were shot and more than 200 houses and establishments attacked during this period.
Of these incidents, 68 were linked to internal clashes among BNP supporters, leaving 595 injured and three killed, it said.
HRSS said a further 100 clashes between BNP and Jamaat supporters injured 915 and killed one person.
Twelve clashes between BNP and NCP supporters left 58 injured, while three clashes involving BNP and Awami League supporters injured three people, it added.
In addition, two clashes between NCP and Jatiya Party supporters left 23 injured, 14 clashes involving BNP and other parties injured 46, and three separate incidents injured 10 people. Of the five killed during this phase, three were BNP supporters, one a Jamaat supporter and one affiliated with Inqilab Moncho, the report said, said HRSS.
Following the announcement of election results, violence spread to at least 30 districts, said HRSS, adding it recorded more than 200 clashes involving supporters of BNP, Jamaat and independent candidates, leaving over 300 injured and at least 350 offices, businesses and homes vandalised or set on fire.
Three of the 10 deaths occurred after the results were declared, the rights group further states.
HRSS also documented 32 incidents targeting women between December 11 last year and February 14 this year, in which 45 women were harassed and 23 injured. It alleged that BNP activists or affiliates were accused in 31 of those incidents.
The organisation called for impartial investigations into all incidents and urged the authorities concerned to take preventive measures to ensure accountability and prevent further violence in future elections.
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