Is the Killing of Another Political Leader in Bangladesh Indicating a Deteriorating Law and Order Situation Under Yunus?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Alarming rise in violence against political leaders.
- Growing protests indicating public discontent.
- Concerns over political stability under the current administration.
- Investigations into politically motivated murders ongoing.
- Public safety remains a critical issue.
Dhaka, Jan 8 (NationPress) In yet another alarming incident that underscores the escalating law and order crisis in Bangladesh, a leader from the Jatiyatabadi Swechasebak Dal was fatally shot by gunmen in Dhaka on Wednesday night, as confirmed by police officials on Thursday.
Azizur Rahman Mosabbir, who served as the Joint Convener of the Swechasebak Dal's Dhaka North unit, was reportedly enjoying tea with a party associate at a stall located behind the Bashundhara City Shopping Mall in the Karwan Bazar area when multiple attackers on motorcycles approached, opened fire indiscriminately, and fled the scene.
According to local media outlets, Additional Deputy Police Commissioner (ADC) Fazlul Karim of the DMP's Tejgaon Division stated that both individuals were initially rushed to BRB Hospital in Panthapath and subsequently transferred to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where medical personnel pronounced Mosabbir dead.
The other victim, identified as Abu Sufian Bepari Masud, the General Secretary of the Tejgaon Police Station Van Workers Union, sustained injuries in the incident and is currently receiving treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
Following the shooting, a group of enraged locals blocked the SAARC Foara intersection in Karwan Bazar, causing traffic disruptions. The army intervened around 10:30 pm to disperse the protesters and restore traffic flow, as reported by leading Bangla newspaper Prothom Alo.
On December 12, Islamist student leader Sharif Osman Hadi suffered a gunshot wound to the head when assailants fired at his rickshaw from a moving motorcycle on Paltan Road in Dhaka. He was later airlifted to Singapore for medical care but tragically succumbed to his injuries on December 18.
Authorities from the Bangladesh police have labeled Hadi's murder as a “politically motivated crime,” alleging that the conspiracy behind the attack was orchestrated from Singapore.
The Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s (DMP) Detective Branch has submitted a chargesheet against 17 suspects related to this case in a metropolitan court in Dhaka.
Since the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government took office in August 2024, Bangladesh has faced a surge in protests and a deteriorating security situation.