Bangladesh has experienced over 50 attacks on minority communities alongside election-related violence, harassment, and killings of political figures, as per recent reports. Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) revealed that within 36 days of announcing the schedule for the upcoming 13th national election, 15 political leaders and activists were killed across the country. The general elections are set for February 12 in Bangladesh, where concerns are mounting over the more than 50 attacks on minority groups.
A study documented a total of 401 incidents of political violence last year, resulting in 102 fatalities. Furthermore, the report highlighted that at least 1,333 weapons are missing, raising alarms about the potential escalation of violence. The failure to recover this substantial number of looted weapons from police stations, coupled with the issuance of new firearms licenses to political figures, could heighten the risk of unrest.
Political parties like Jamaat-e-Islami, the National Citizen Party (NCP), and Islami Andolan Bangladesh have questioned the fairness of the electoral process. Allegations of bias by the Election Commission in scrutinizing nominations and disqualifying candidates over loan defaults and dual citizenship have been raised by these parties. Notably, the Awami League is currently prohibited from engaging in political activities in Bangladesh following a student-led protest in 2024.
A research report by TIB titled ‘One and a half years after the fall of authoritarianism: Expectations and outcomes’ highlighted emerging threats from deepfakes and misinformation. The report stressed the necessity for significant reforms in technology, law, and procedures for elections and referendums, pointing out security risks and the misuse of Artificial Intelligence for spreading false information. The study also noted that only 9-10% of the total personnel assigned to election duties are police, indicating a significant shortfall in ensuring overall security.
Reports have suggested the deployment of the army on the streets to maintain law and order. The TIB report claimed that institutions responsible for verifying information in candidates’ affidavits lack adequate capacity or fail to fully utilize existing mechanisms. Despite facing various challenges, including instability and concerns over a smooth democratic transition, the TIB observed that an election-focused environment persists in Bangladesh.
