As Bangladesh gears up for its 13th Parliamentary elections, reports from a Dhaka-based human rights organization reveal a concerning rise in political violence and assaults on journalists across the country. Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) disclosed that 47 journalists faced violence in the first 10 days of February, following 16 incidents in January and 11 in December 2025, raising alarm about the safety of journalists covering election news.
Highlighting a February 7 incident, ASK pointed out that 21 journalists from Bangladesh Times were taken to a military camp from their workplaces and detained for nearly two hours, a move described as a significant hindrance to press freedom. The organization recorded 58 instances of political violence in Bangladesh between February 1 and 10, resulting in 2 deaths and 489 injuries, with a notable increase in violence compared to the previous month.
The rights group warned that the escalating violence and harassment of journalists pose a grave threat to the fairness of the upcoming election. It called on all relevant parties to uphold the rule of law, safeguard the constitutional rights of every citizen, and ensure a secure environment for voters to freely exercise their voting rights.
In January alone, ASK documented 75 incidents of political violence in Bangladesh, leading to 616 injuries and 11 fatalities, marking a significant surge from the previous month. The situation worsened following the announcement of the election schedule and the commencement of campaigning on January 22, indicating a deteriorating law and order scenario in the country.
