A human rights organization, Odhikar, revealed in a recent field monitoring report that authorities have neglected to respond to almost half of the instances of electoral violence leading up to the February 12 elections. The report highlighted the involvement of BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami supporters in most of the documented incidents, which were primarily situated in rural areas.
Presenting their findings at a press briefing themed “Electoral Violence in the Pre-Election Period: Evidence from Field Monitoring” in Gulshan, Odhikar covered a monitoring period from January 18 to February 5, encompassing 50 constituencies across 22 districts with support from the European Partnership for Democracy (EPD).
During this timeframe, Odhikar documented 30 violence-related incidents in 14 districts, noting that authorities took no action in 47 percent of the cases, leading to perceptions of impunity due to rare investigations or protective measures. The report emphasized that nearly two-thirds of the incidents dissuaded or obstructed voters and candidates from participating in the electoral process.
BNP affiliates were majorly implicated in the reported cases, closely followed by Jamaat-e-Islami. Chattogram and Cox’s Bazar were identified as primary hotspots, recording seven and four incidents, respectively. The report highlighted intimidation as the most prevalent tactic during the pre-election period, with threats and harassment constituting 33 percent of incidents, followed by property damage (20 percent), clashes (17 percent), and obstruction of the electoral process (17 percent).
Notably, two-thirds of the incidents occurred in union parishads, with half taking place in public spaces like streets and marketplaces. Speakers at the briefing urged the Election Commission and law enforcement agencies to bolster their presence in rural constituencies and ensure impartial law enforcement.
Taskin Fahmina, Odhikar’s advocacy director, expressed hope that authorities would safeguard women and minority communities in the remaining days leading up to the election, emphasizing the need for political parties to instruct grassroots activists to refrain from violence. The report recommended extending security force deployment in critical constituencies beyond the initially planned three-day post-election period.
Key figures from Odhikar including Programme Coordinator Korban Ali, Admin Director Nasiruddin Elan, and former member of the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances Sazzad Hussain also addressed the event, underscoring the urgency of addressing electoral violence and ensuring a fair and peaceful electoral process.