Political violence continues to plague Bangladesh even after a change in national leadership, with clashes among supporters of the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) exposing deep-rooted rivalries over local influence, political positions, and control of economic resources. Data compiled by Bangladeshi human rights organisation Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) and examined in a recent report by The Diplomat paints a sobering picture of a cycle that has outlasted multiple administrations.

Recent Incidents Highlight Continuing Threat

One of the most recent cases occurred on 18 October, when Ripon Mia, a local leader of the BNP's youth wing Jubo Dal, was chased and attacked with sharp weapons in the Paiska area of Narayanganj district. He was rushed to hospital, where doctors declared him dead. His daughter, Shila, told local media that several men had pursued and hacked her father. According to local BNP activists, the dispute had reportedly escalated over whose names were to appear on a guest list for a religious event. The local BNP president reportedly attributed the killing to a struggle for political dominance.

In a separate incident on 28 February — less than two weeks after the BNP returned to elected power — clashes between BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) supporters in Chuadanga district claimed two lives. Police said an argument following the evening meal during Ramadan spiralled into violence. Hafizur Rahman died hours after the clash; his brother Mofizur Rahman, a local JI leader, succumbed to injuries at a Dhaka hospital on 10 March. Police arrested three suspects, including a local BNP official and a former leader of its volunteer wing.

Scale of Violence in 2026: ASK Data

Between January and September 2026, ASK recorded 467 incidents of political violence across Bangladesh, resulting in 94 deaths and 3,587 injuries. Of these, 112 incidents involved clashes between rival BNP factions, leaving 18 people dead and 1,215 injured. These figures span both the final weeks of the interim administration and the elected government led by BNP chief Tarique Rahman, who assumed office as Prime Minister on 17 February.

A Pattern Stretching Back Decades

The data reveals this is far from a new phenomenon. During 2002–2006, when the BNP was previously in power, ASK recorded 284 internal party clashes, resulting in 55 deaths. Internal clashes within the Awami League (AL) accounted for another 37 deaths during the same period. After the AL returned to power in 2009, ASK documented 799 internal party clashes between 2009 and 2012, leaving 97 people dead. The BNP recorded 229 clashes and 21 deaths during those years in opposition. Notably, violence tied to local elections has also been persistently deadly — ASK recorded 147 deaths linked to Union Parishad election-related violence in 2016, and 113 in 2021.

Drivers: Land, Contracts, and Local Power

Research cited in The Diplomat's report identifies struggles for dominance within political organisations — combined with disputes over contracts, land, property, and employment — as the primary drivers of recurring violence. This comes amid broader expectations that the political upheaval of August 2024, which ended former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's 15-year rule, would usher in a new political culture. Subsequent incidents suggest otherwise.

BNP Leadership Responds, But Challenges Remain

The BNP leadership has acknowledged the problem. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman reportedly warned party lawmakers against extortion and land grabbing, stressing that elected representatives would be held accountable. Critics argue, however, that warnings from the top have historically had limited effect on ground-level behaviour. The findings of The Diplomat report underscore a structural challenge — political transitions in Bangladesh have repeatedly changed those holding national office without dismantling the local networks of rivalry and resource competition that repeatedly turn violent.