DHAKA: Bangladesh’s general election campaigns ended on Thursday, with reports suggesting that at least 1,100 people had been injured in clashes between political supporters during electioneering.
The majority of those injured were reportedly supporters of the largest opposition party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Violence has plagued the country since the first day of campaigning, Dec. 10.
Since the elections were announced on Nov. 8, around 9,200 BNP supporters, including prominent figures in the party, have been arrested, according to the BNP’s Senior Joint Secretary-General Ruhul Kabir Rizvy. Media reports suggest at least 53 candidates from the BNP-led opposition coalition, Jatiya Oikya Front (JOF), have been attacked by opponents during the 17 days since electioneering began.
On Monday, the Election Commission (EC) deployed troops on the streets in an attempt to quell the violence. But according to the JOF, attacks on its candidates have remained a daily occurrence. Two supporters of the ruling Awami League (AL) have also been killed during campaign clashes.
During the same period, the High Court has barred 17 BNP candidates from running in the election due to non-compliance with Bangladesh’s election code, which states that any parliamentary candidate who holds a public office must submit a resignation letter to the relevant authority ahead of filing candidature, something all 17 candidates failed to do. Two AL candidates have also been declared ineligible to run in Sunday’s general elections.
According to Rizvy, 806 “ghost cases” have been filed against BNP activists, and 2,716 attacks have taken place at JOF rallies around the country. “The government is applying all its power to oust the BNP and JOF from the election,” he claimed at a press conference in Dhaka on Thursday. “Our activists are targeted from rally footage.”
The EC, however, has stated that the situation is “under control.”
Talking to reporters at his office in Dhaka on Thursday, election commissioner Shahadat Hossain Chowdhury said, “I admit that anxiety around the election has grown. I want to term it political heat.” He insisted, however, that there would be a “free and fair” election on Dec. 30.
However, one of Chowdhury’s colleagues, Mahbub Talukder, said on Wednesday that he had “grave concerns” about Sunday’s elections.
“If we cannot hold a peaceful election in a violence-free environment after 47 years of independence, the sacrifice of 30 lakh martyrs for independence and democracy will go in vain. We cannot allow this to happen,” Talukder said.
And BNP Secretary-General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir told reporters in his constituency of Thakurgaon on Thursday that he does not believe a “fair election” is possible under the current government.
“The election process has turned into a farce,” he said. “No election atmosphere is prevailing in the country as all the attacks are made on BNP people. It’s very unfortunate and unimaginable that these attacks are being sponsored by the state itself.”  However, he added, “We’re in the election and will remain there till the end.”
Meanwhile, the AL claims that the BNP and JOF are contriving to foil the election with false claims.
“Oikya Front will try different tricks and instigations to thwart the polls,” Obaidul Quader, general-secretary and deputy head of the AL said at a rally in his constituency of Noakhali on Thursday. “Beware of their traps and continue working patiently for the next three days to hold the election.” holding the election with patience.” Political experts in the country pointed out that election clashes are “nothing new” in Bangladesh. “Earlier also the country witnessed election clashes,” said Prof. Amanullah Ferdous of Dhaka University. “But the intensity of attacks on opposition contenders is something new in this election.” However, he stressed that the situation was still not as bad as those seen in India and Pakistan during election campaigns.
“If the voters can apply their rights on election day it will be a tough competition between the AL and BNP,” he told Arab News. “But if the voter turnout is low, there will be fears of vote rigging.”
On Thursday, UN Secretary-General António Guterres took to Twitter to express his concern over the election clashes. He urged all stakeholders “to ensure an environment free of violence, intimidation, and coercion; before, during and after the upcoming election in Bangladesh.”