Thursday, 04 September, 2025
As Bangladesh moves closer to the 13th National Parliamentary Elections, scheduled for 12 February, mounting unrest and violence are fuelling fears over whether the polls can be conducted freely, fairly and peacefully.
These concerns were also echoed on Tuesday by Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus following meetings with leaders from seven political parties and one Islamist organisation.
He warned that those intent on blocking Bangladesh’s progress would “do everything possible” to sabotage the election, and urged all political parties to remain vigilant and united.
Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam quoted Dr Yunus as saying that the polls would go ahead on time in a “celebratory environment” and provide “a positive experience even for those who had previously faced obstacles when voting”.
“Attempts to create unrest are already visible, and more may follow. Our responsibility is to ensure that the election takes place and that power is transferred to the elected government,” Yunus said.
Describing the February election as “unprecedented”, he called it the vote of all citizens and political parties, aimed at shaping the Bangladesh of the future. He also stressed the need to prevent foreign interference and appealed for full cooperation to preserve order.
Tuesday’s meeting also addressed security during the forthcoming Durga Puja festival, with Yunus urging vigilance to ensure that celebrations proceed peacefully nationwide.
Representatives present included the AB Party, Nagorik Oikya, Ganosamhati Andolon, Gono Odhikar Parishad, LDP, Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Jatiya Ganofront and Hifazat-e-Islam. Earlier, Yunus had met BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami and NCP leaders to discuss the election and current issues.
Despite these assurances, violence continues to darken the electoral landscape. The latest flashpoint erupted on Friday evening in Dhaka’s Kakrail area, where clashes left several people injured, including Gono Odhikar Parishad president Nurul Haque Nur. Widely known as VP Nur, he sustained serious injuries in a baton charge during a confrontation with the Jatiya Party outside its office.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir swiftly condemned the attack, warning of attempts to sideline centrist and liberal politics in favour of extremist forces.
“There is a conspiracy to dismantle liberal democracy and bring back extremist politics. This would be disastrous for Bangladesh. We must work together to protect democratic values,” he told journalists at the National Press Club.
Jamaat-e-Islami’s Naib-e-Ameer, Dr Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher, reiterated his party’s commitment to participate in elections expected on 15 February but insisted that reforms and legal recognition of the July Charter were essential for credibility.
Yet unity among the opposition remains elusive. The BNP, widely regarded as the strongest contender to return to power in the absence of the Awami League, remains wary of being seen as too closely aligned with Jamaat. Islamist groups, meanwhile, sense an opening in the transformed political landscape but remain divided by mistrust and rivalries. Smaller parties fear marginalisation should BNP dominate the opposition alliance, while disputes over electoral strategy threaten to widen the rifts further.
Leaders of emerging groups have also raised allegations of conspiracy. Sarjis Alam of the National Citizen Party claimed that VP Nur had been deliberately targeted by security forces acting under higher command. Such claims have fuelled public suspicion that shadowy elements are seeking to manipulate the fragile political environment.
For residents of the capital, repeated outbreaks of violence are taking a heavy toll, paralysing daily life and crippling traffic. A former vice-chancellor, speaking to The Bangladesh Express on condition of anonymity, argued that many of the protests now crowding Dhaka’s streets lack genuine substance.
“If you examine their slogans, you will find little validity. Instead, you will smell conspiracy to thwart the upcoming national election,” he said.
The Election Commission has admitted it faces mounting challenges. Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin warned on Friday that his office was grappling with “new and multifaceted” obstacles ranging from political unrest and breakdowns in law and order to technological concerns. “Every day we encounter challenges that did not exist in earlier elections,” he said. Uncertainty is further compounded by the debate over proportional representation in parliament, which Jamaat has pressed as part of its reform agenda.
With polling day drawing near, the stakes are higher than ever. BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman has repeatedly called for unity in the face of conspiracies, urging supporters to remain vigilant against any attempt to derail the democratic process.
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As Bangladesh moves closer to the 13th National Parliamentary Elections, scheduled for 12 February, mounting unrest and violence are fuelling fears over whether the polls can be conducted freely, fairly and peacefully.
These concerns were also echoed on Tuesday by Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus following meetings with leaders from seven political parties and one Islamist organisation.
He warned that those intent on blocking Bangladesh’s progress would “do everything possible” to sabotage the election, and urged all political parties to remain vigilant and united.
Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam quoted Dr Yunus as saying that the polls would go ahead on time in a “celebratory environment” and provide “a positive experience even for those who had previously faced obstacles when voting”.
“Attempts to create unrest are already visible, and more may follow. Our responsibility is to ensure that the election takes place and that power is transferred to the elected government,” Yunus said.
Describing the February election as “unprecedented”, he called it the vote of all citizens and political parties, aimed at shaping the Bangladesh of the future. He also stressed the need to prevent foreign interference and appealed for full cooperation to preserve order.
Tuesday’s meeting also addressed security during the forthcoming Durga Puja festival, with Yunus urging vigilance to ensure that celebrations proceed peacefully nationwide.
Representatives present included the AB Party, Nagorik Oikya, Ganosamhati Andolon, Gono Odhikar Parishad, LDP, Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Jatiya Ganofront and Hifazat-e-Islam. Earlier, Yunus had met BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami and NCP leaders to discuss the election and current issues.
Despite these assurances, violence continues to darken the electoral landscape. The latest flashpoint erupted on Friday evening in Dhaka’s Kakrail area, where clashes left several people injured, including Gono Odhikar Parishad president Nurul Haque Nur. Widely known as VP Nur, he sustained serious injuries in a baton charge during a confrontation with the Jatiya Party outside its office.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir swiftly condemned the attack, warning of attempts to sideline centrist and liberal politics in favour of extremist forces.
“There is a conspiracy to dismantle liberal democracy and bring back extremist politics. This would be disastrous for Bangladesh. We must work together to protect democratic values,” he told journalists at the National Press Club.
Jamaat-e-Islami’s Naib-e-Ameer, Dr Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher, reiterated his party’s commitment to participate in elections expected on 15 February but insisted that reforms and legal recognition of the July Charter were essential for credibility.
Yet unity among the opposition remains elusive. The BNP, widely regarded as the strongest contender to return to power in the absence of the Awami League, remains wary of being seen as too closely aligned with Jamaat. Islamist groups, meanwhile, sense an opening in the transformed political landscape but remain divided by mistrust and rivalries. Smaller parties fear marginalisation should BNP dominate the opposition alliance, while disputes over electoral strategy threaten to widen the rifts further.
Leaders of emerging groups have also raised allegations of conspiracy. Sarjis Alam of the National Citizen Party claimed that VP Nur had been deliberately targeted by security forces acting under higher command. Such claims have fuelled public suspicion that shadowy elements are seeking to manipulate the fragile political environment.
For residents of the capital, repeated outbreaks of violence are taking a heavy toll, paralysing daily life and crippling traffic. A former vice-chancellor, speaking to The Bangladesh Express on condition of anonymity, argued that many of the protests now crowding Dhaka’s streets lack genuine substance.
“If you examine their slogans, you will find little validity. Instead, you will smell conspiracy to thwart the upcoming national election,” he said.
The Election Commission has admitted it faces mounting challenges. Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin warned on Friday that his office was grappling with “new and multifaceted” obstacles ranging from political unrest and breakdowns in law and order to technological concerns. “Every day we encounter challenges that did not exist in earlier elections,” he said. Uncertainty is further compounded by the debate over proportional representation in parliament, which Jamaat has pressed as part of its reform agenda.
With polling day drawing near, the stakes are higher than ever. BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman has repeatedly called for unity in the face of conspiracies, urging supporters to remain vigilant against any attempt to derail the democratic process.
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