The political atmosphere in Bangladesh has been marred by instability right at the start of the general election campaign. In the city of Chattogram, unidentified assailants on motorcycles opened fire indiscriminately during an election rally organized by the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), resulting in the immediate death of one party activist and injuring two others, including the opposition candidate.
According to police officials, the tragic incident occurred when the attackers targeted the crowd and quickly fled the scene after the shooting. Among the injured is Ershadullah, a key BNP candidate, who was immediately rushed to the hospital for medical attention.
Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, a senior BNP leader, condemned the attack as a dangerous attempt to sabotage the electoral process. He stated that such violent incidents are conspiracies designed to create political instability in the country and obstruct the democratic process.
Following the grave incident, the interim head of Bangladesh, Muhammad Yunus, promptly ordered a comprehensive investigation into the matter. He strongly urged all political parties to exercise restraint and avoid violence to ensure the forthcoming elections are peaceful and transparent.
The general elections are scheduled for February 2026, taking place after the removal of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government last August. This act of violence comes just as major political parties in Bangladesh formally kicked off their election campaigns yesterday.
