Dhaka, Jan 13 (NationPress) As Bangladesh approaches its 13th parliamentary election set for February, a significant increase in violence, including targeted assassinations and rampant illegal firearm usage, has instilled a sense of fear among political factions and potential candidates nationwide, according to reports from local media.

Reports indicate that murders linked to political rivalries, struggles for power, and personal conflicts have surged, raising serious security worries among the general populace.

According to data from Police headquarters, the leading Bangladeshi daily Dhaka Tribune reported that between January and November last year, a total of 3,509 individuals were killed throughout the nation.

The Dhaka-based human rights organization Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) revealed that political violence resulted in the deaths of 102 people last year, a significant rise from 45 in 2023.

Another Bangladeshi rights organization, the Human Rights Support Society (HRSS), recorded 123 fatalities linked to political violence in the previous year, up from 96 in 2023.

The assassination of radical Islamist leader Sharif Osman Hadi, who intended to run as an independent candidate from the Dhaka-8 constituency, has reignited security concerns, prompting political figures and other prominent individuals to hire armed guards for their protection.

On December 13, Bangladesh's interim government announced the initiation of the second phase of “Operation Devil Hunt Phase-2” nationwide, citing the necessity to thwart subversive activities involving illegal firearms ahead of the February 2026 elections, as reported by local media.

Police records indicate that during the first 24 days of the operation, 15,009 individuals were apprehended and 218 firearms were seized.

On January 7, during the ongoing Operation Devil Hunt Phase-2, a leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s (BNP) voluntary wing, Jatiyatabadi Swechasebak Dal, was shot and killed by gunmen in Dhaka.

Azizur Rahman Mosabbir, a joint convener of the Swechasebak Dal's Dhaka North unit, was reportedly enjoying tea with a party colleague at a stall behind the Bashundhara City Shopping Mall in the Karwan Bazar area when several assailants on motorcycles opened fire indiscriminately before fleeing.

In an interview with Dhaka Tribune, Saiful Haque, general secretary of the Revolutionary Workers Party representing the Dhaka-12 constituency and a BNP-supported candidate, expressed that the murders of Hadi and Musabbir have left both voters and candidates fearful for their safety.

“The government and the Election Commission are failing to provide the necessary security. We must overcome this situation. To ensure a fair and successful election, the law and order situation must improve. Otherwise, such killings will persist,” Haque asserted.

When questioned about the strategies to mitigate targeted killings ahead of the election, Bangladesh’s Inspector General of Police (IGP) Baharul Alam stated that preventing violence is exceedingly challenging.

“The police are working to suppress all forms of crime. Operation Devil Hunt Phase-2 is actively ongoing to maintain law and order before the election,” the senior police official was quoted by Dhaka Tribune.

Since the assumption of power by the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government, Bangladesh has experienced escalating violence and a deteriorating law and order situation.