Political violence is nothing new in Bangladesh, and it has almost become a tradition that members of political parties turn to unsavoury means to cement their dominance.
This persists due to inter- and intra-party conflicts and gaps in the legal and institutional framework.
According to Ain-o-Shalish Kendra (ASK), a human rights organisation, as many as 121 people were killed and 4,892 injured in 444 incidents of political violence between August last year and May this year.
These incidents unfolded as party members fought over control of extortion rackets, positions in local committees, and even land.
According to Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB), when political parties lack a democratic culture, they tend to reward loyalty instead of skills and abilities. Such behaviour creates an environment where different groups within the same party compete violently.
In the recent past, there was political violence centring the national elections. A study conducted by the International Crisis Group in 2023 found that the Election Commission (EC) repeatedly acted in favour of the Awami League government in conducting parliamentary elections.
As the EC failed to ensure free and fair elections, it often turned electoral contests into violent confrontations. Parties used force more than votes to determine outcomes.
Alongside the EC, the police and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) have repeatedly been accused of fuelling political violence, according to Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch (HRW).
These two law enforcement entities landed under the spotlight after various examples of extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, and torture, often targeting opposition activists or protesters, were documented.
These abuses were often ignored.
Political violence in the view of the law
Political violence as a specific term is not explicitly defined in any law in Bangladesh. However, various aspects of political violence are covered under existing laws and legal provisions.
Political violence may fall under the provisions of the Special Powers Act-1974, which aims to curb political unrest.
But this act has often been used by the incumbent government against its political opponents.
There is no separate legal statute that explicitly defines "political violence", but it is indirectly defined through general criminal laws and security-related legislation.
As such, legal and institutional gaps remain a major problem in this regard in Bangladesh, allowing political violence to flourish.
What do stakeholders and experts say?
BNP standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain told Dhaka Stream that those involved in political violence, such as in the recent murder of a scraps trader in front of Mitford hospital, have already been removed from their positions.
He also said that BNP supports democracy and is undergoing a screening process to ensure that such incidents don't recur.
He added that political violence goes totally against the values of democracy, undermining the BNP's aim to restore democracy in Bangladesh.
Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar said the nation and its people cannot be safe if political violence is allowed to continue. Ensuring a screening process in political parties is urgently required to curb political violence.
Gono Odhikar Parishad's General Secretary Md Rashed Khan said incidents like the Mitford murder could lead to a chaotic situation for the country and may even benefit the Awami League.
"Most influential parties don't pay enough attention to monitoring their own members," he said, adding that simply terminating someone from a party is not enough. "The party should formally file cases against its members who are involved in violence.
"Without proper screening of party leaders and activists, it won't be able to succeed."
He also criticised the interim government for its failure to stabilise the law-and-order situation, claiming it had led to the spread of "mob culture" across the country.
Saber Ahmed Chowdhury, a former chairman of the Peace and Conflict Studies Department at the University of Dhaka, told Dhaka Stream that since 5 August last year, the law-and-order situation has significantly changed.
He related the increasing incidents of political violence to the rational choice theory, which suggests that wrongdoers think strategically before committing offences.
The first thing they consider is how they can escape punishment, especially how much support they might get from political leaders.
"In many cases, when law enforcement agencies arrest a culprit, political party leaders often intervene to get them released. This trend is harmful because it encourages political violence," he said.
Dr Saber also mentioned the routine activity theory, which suggests that political turmoil exists in every country. However, political backing fuels them to commit crimes fearlessly, creating a cycle of violence where one crime leads to another, he said.
"The passing of the Legislative Power Act was a significant step, but according to this statement, its lack of implementation has led to a major gap at the grassroots level," he said.
Dhaka Stream also attempted to reach out to BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi and BNP Vice-Chairman Samsuzzamn Dudu on Sunday, but neither could be reached.
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