By Ali Hassan

Great violence in Bangladesh was evident in last General Elections. Electoral violence started with the date December 10, 2018, as formally approved candidate lists published and election campaigning began in constituencies across the country. Hundreds had been injured during political rallies in clashes between rival party supporters.

Awami League (AL) was then the ruling party and BNP was an opposition party, so much of the campaign violence targeted the opposition BNP and supporters of an opposition coalition efforts led by civil society leaders called the Jatiya Oikya Front (National United Front). Alleged members of the ruling party attacked vehicles carrying Jatiya Oikya Front leader, 81-years-old Kamal Hossain. While he was unharmed, at least 25 others people were injured in that incident. The Chief Election Commissioner, KM Nurul Huda, described the attack as “unfortunate,” but did not order additional security.

Moreover, in many cases, journalists present at the clashes concluded BNP campaigns had come under attack by members of the Awami League. The ruling party, however, blamed the opposition for most of the violence. Scores of opposition members were arrested. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's political adviser, H.T Imam told that they were getting news of political violence from different parts of the country.

The BNP participated in the 2018 election as the National Unity Front (NUF) under the leadership of former Law Minister Kamal Hossain (1972 – 1975). However, after elections, the government intensified persecution, imposed severe restrictions on media, including social media, and disqualified opposition candidates. The election was the most manipulated election in the history of the nation, due to the fact that the Election Commission, the ruling party, the administration, and the law-enforcement agencies including the military worked together to ensure a victory of the AL. Khaleda Zia was convicted ahead of the election and jailed, while her son and “heir apparent,” Tareque Rahman, has remained in self-exile in London after he was convicted in several cases. In May 2020, Khaleda Zia’s sentence was suspended due to her deteriorating health, on the condition that she can neither travel nor participate in political activities. Her party remained fragmented due to a lack of leadership.

However, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has repeatedly said that Bangladesh is a mature democracy capable of conducting elections and a peaceful transition of power, but instead previous polls have been marked by violence, attacks on the opposition, and voter intimidation. These recent cases of political attacks and arrests set an ominous tone for the upcoming parliamentary elections.

More or less the attitudes of the ruling party and the opposition should be changed in order to save Bangladesh from further violence and political unrest. The situation which was seen in Bangladesh during previous elections if repeated in the forthcoming elections, there would be nothing left which could save Bangladesh as democratic state anymore. Moreover, Human Rights Watch advised Bangladesh that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, as well as Awami League and BNP party leaders, should condemn political violence and call on their supporters to respect the right of all Bangladeshis to safely and peacefully gather, and to run for office without fear. Furthermore, International human rights law calls for authorities to uphold free expression and peaceful assembly. The UN Human Rights Committee, which interprets the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, says in its General comment No. 37, concerning the right to peaceful assembly, that states have an obligation to “respect and ensure” the right of peaceful assembly without discrimination, and to allow such assemblies to “take place without unwarranted interference.” In case “an assembly provokes or may provoke a hostile reaction from members of the public against participants,” the state has a duty to allow the assembly to go ahead and to protect participants.

It was viewed that Bangladesh law enforcement is under increased scrutiny following US human rights sanctions and with parliamentary elections on the horizon. Diplomats in Bangladesh should raise concerns publicly and privately that such repression threatens the conditions for a free and fair election.

Although there have been taken necessary steps in order to conduct fair elections in Bangladesh such as the formation of new election commission and insertion of EVMs, but yet there is need of smooth regulation and implementations of these steps till making sure of free and fair elections which are going to be conducted in next coming year. The law and order enforcement agencies should pay their role which should be very honest and loyal to the state while holding elections and election commission should also be kept in view to ensure its unbiased behavior while conducting elections and results should be acceptable for all and the leading party must be accepted by all the parties taking part in elections. This behavior could eradicate the political unrest and violence from the state and it could assure the unity in Bangladesh which could strengthen the Bangladesh in future.