Five individuals, including a child, sustained injuries when unidentified attackers fired shots during an election rally in the Ali Khali Rohingya camp area of Teknaf upazila, Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. The incident occurred in Block A/04 of Camp-25 at around 8:30 pm local time on Thursday. Among the injured were two Rohingyas and three Bangladeshi nationals. Witnesses reported that the gunfire erupted during an election campaign on a truck displaying the sheaf of paddy symbol, injuring five people gathered near the vehicle.
Political violence in Bangladesh has been escalating as the country approaches elections scheduled for February 12. Reports indicate a significant surge in casualties in January compared to December 2025. According to the human rights organization ‘Ain o Salish Kendra’ (ASK), there were 75 incidents of political violence in January, resulting in 616 injuries and 11 deaths. This represents a stark increase from the 18 incidents in December 2025, which caused 268 injuries and four fatalities. The escalation in clashes has been particularly notable since the election schedule announcement and the commencement of campaigning on January 22.
In the period between January 21-31, ASK documented 49 clashes that resulted in four fatalities and 414 injuries. The organization highlighted a clear upward trend in violence as the election day approaches. Notably, journalists have also been targeted amid the escalating political unrest. In December last year, 11 journalists faced obstruction or assault while on duty, a number that rose to 16 in January. Expressing concern over the rising violence, ASK has called on political parties to show restraint and maintain peace during the campaign. Additionally, law enforcement agencies have been urged to protect citizens and uphold their constitutional rights.
