At least five individuals have lost their lives, and 970 individuals have sustained injuries due to violence related to the upcoming 13th Parliamentary Election in Bangladesh, as reported by the Human Rights Support Society (HRSS). The HRSS shared these figures during a press briefing at the Jatiya Press Club today, presenting a document named “Report on Violence Before the 13th National Parliamentary Election.”
The report, compiled using information from 15 national newspapers, over 150 local publications, and data gathered by district reporters, revealed a total of 162 violent occurrences recorded between December 11, 2025, when the election timetable was disclosed, and January 31, 2026. These incidents involved clashes, assaults, property damage, and arson activities primarily stemming from disagreements over nominations and local political influence among competing candidates and their supporters.
In a broader analysis of the human rights situation between September 2024 and January 2026, another HRSS publication on the same day highlighted 1,411 instances of political violence occurring nationwide, resulting in a minimum of 195 fatalities and 11,229 injuries. Notably, a significant portion of these incidents, totaling 704, arose from internal conflicts within the BNP and its affiliated groups. These internal disputes led to 121 deaths and 7,131 injuries.
The report identified various factors fueling these conflicts, such as power struggles, political vendettas, violence during rallies, disagreements regarding committee structures, extortion activities, and attempts to gain control over establishments. HRSS also expressed deep concern over the escalating trend of mob violence and lynching, terming it as “extremely alarming.”
During the interim government’s tenure, the report documented 413 cases of mob assaults across the nation in the 17-month period, resulting in at least 259 fatalities. The report emphasized the brutality of these incidents, with victims often succumbing to fatal beatings or being set on fire, citing the tragic case of garment worker Dipu Chandra Das who was falsely accused of blasphemy, beaten to death, and his body set ablaze.
Furthermore, the HRSS report indicated that approximately 60 individuals lost their lives during confrontations with law enforcement, while in custody, or due to torture within the same timeframe. These fatalities included six deaths in alleged “gunfights,” 22 from torture, 12 in police custody, and 20 from gunshot wounds. The report also highlighted the death of at least 127 detainees in prison custody nationwide during this period.
In addition, the report documented 56 assaults targeting minority communities, involving vandalism of residences and places of worship. These incidents resulted in one fatality and 27 injuries, with 17 temples, 63 idols, and 65 houses vandalized. Furthermore, six instances of land encroachment against minority groups were reported.
