Pre-election violence shadows Bangladesh’s polls as 127 million prepare to vote

Pre-election violence in Bangladesh raises concerns as 127 million voters prepare for the national elections on February 12.

On January 28, supporters of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami became embroiled in a dispute over front-row seating at a programme in Jhenaigati upazila of Sherpur district, triggering a violent clash. At least 65 people were injured, and a Jamaat upazila secretary was killed. Police and army personnel were present at the scene but were unable to prevent the violence. Similar clashes have been reported across the country as Bangladesh heads towards national elections on February 12, the first since the dramatic ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024.

The 13th national election, involving nearly 127 million voters, has raised hopes of a peaceful transition from the post-Hasina interim government to an elected administration. But the pre-election violence has posed new challenges to the election process. At least 15 political leaders and activists have been killed in the 36 days since the Election Commission announced the election schedule on December 11, 2025.

For first-time voters like Taimur Mobin, a 22-year-old graduate of a public university in Dhaka, the growing unrest has dampened expectations. “After a mass uprising that promised the restoration of voting rights, this kind of violence is deeply discouraging,” he said. “If it continues, many voters especially elderly people may avoid polling centres.”

Images of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the father of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, are displayed at Bangabandhu Gate in Gopalganj, Bangladesh, February 2, 2026. | Photo Credit: Reuters

Human rights organisations say the scale of violence is alarming. According to the Human Rights Support Society (HRSS), at least 195 people were killed and 11,229 injured in political violence over the past 17 months. Nearly half of those incidents stemmed from internal conflicts within the BNP and its affiliated bodies, accounting for 121 deaths and 7,131 injuries. Another rights group, Odhikar, reported an even higher toll, stating that 328 people were killed and 9,182 injured in political violence between August 9, 2024, and December 31, 2025.

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) warned that the risk of violence could extend beyond polling day. “We all hope there will not be a single killing or incident, but we cannot guarantee that,” said TIB executive director Iftekharuzzaman. “Based on past experience, the risk may continue for several days after February 12.”