Bangladesh And Poll Violence: How The Country Has Seen Tense Elections Ever Since Independence

Last Updated:February 11, 2026, 14:29 IST

Between the announcement of the Bangladesh election schedule on 12 December 2025 and 7 February 2026, at least 411 election-related violent incidents have been recorded.

Bangladesh is set to go to polls in less than 24 hours. The country will see elections two years after former prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s exit. The election in Bangladesh comes at a time when a series of incidents of violence have marred the current Muhammad Yunus administration.

On Monday, fresh violence broke out in the country, highlighting tensions in the campaign. More than 40 people, including women, were injured late last night in clashes between workers of the Bangladesh ist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami. The violence began after BNP workers accused Jamaat-e-Islami of distributing cash at a late-night programme. BNP activists went to the venue to protest, after which Jamaat mobilised its own supporters.

A fierce confrontation followed and continued into the night, leaving over 40 injured. This is being described as the most violent episode of the ongoing campaign between the two rival camps.

A Poll Marred By Violence

Between the announcement of the Bangladesh election schedule on 12 December 2025 and 7 February 2026, at least 411 election-related violent incidents have been recorded nationwide, according to police headquarters figures cited in reports. These include clashes between rival supporters, obstruction of campaigning, attacks on election offices, protests and other related violence.

On February 11, just a day before polling, miscreants in Netrokona district set fire to at least five schools, including four designated polling centres, in the early hours, damaging benches, fans, and electrical equipment.

The BNP-Jamaat clash came just 72 hours before voting. In another incident on February 7, at least 7 people were injured in Bhola Sadar when supporters of Islami Andolan Bangladesh and Jamaat-e-Islami confronted each other during campaigning.

On February 3, a confrontation between BNP and Jamaat activists in Doulatkhan Upazila left 9 people injured in a street fight during election campaigning.

On February 1, a violent confrontation in Bhola’s Borhanuddin Upazila during poll campaigning injured at least 15 people, including local party leaders and activists from both sides.

There has also been a spate of attacks on religious minorities, particularly Hindus, as the election nears. These include incidents of violence, intimidation, and fears expressed by community leaders about targeted attacks.

A Hindu rice trader, Sushen Chandra Sarkar, was stabbed to death in his shop in Mymensingh just 48 hours before the national election, heightening concerns about minority safety amid escalating campaign violence.

Earlier this month, a Hindu businessman was hacked to death inside his shop in Mymensingh district just days before the election, under circumstances that raised alarm among minority communities about safety and targeted violence.

Dipu Chandra Das, a 27-year-old Hindu garment worker in Gazipur, was beaten to death by a mob in December 2025 after colleagues accused him of making derogatory remarks about Islam. His body was hung from a tree and set on fire, sparking outrage and fear among the Hindu minority.

Longstanding Pattern Of Election-Related Violence In Bangladesh

Pre-election violence — clashes, intimidation, killings, attacks on rallies, and disruption of campaigning — has been a recurring feature of Bangladesh’s electoral history since the country’s independence in 1971. Human rights groups and academic studies note that almost every national parliamentary election has seen incidents of violence before, during, or after voting.

The early 1990s saw violent clashes leading up to elections, with dozens killed or injured in party conflicts.

In June 1996, a controversial election was marked by widespread unrest, with reports of around 20 deaths in the lead-up to voting.

The 2001 parliamentary elections and aftermath were among the most violent periods: over 120 people were killed during the campaign period and thousands injured.

Post-election violence included attacks on minorities and targeted intimidation of rival party supporters, adding to the sense of insecurity around the polls.

The 2008 election was comparatively peaceful in terms of deaths but still saw violent incidents in some regions.

2014 was one of the most notoriously violent and controversial elections in Bangladesh: the main opposition BNP boycotted it, and there were dozens of deaths both on voting day and in the pre-poll period. Many seats were uncontested, and over 150 voting centres were burned.

In the run-up to the December 30, 2018 general election, there were dozens of incidents of violence, including attacks on opposition candidates and supporters of BNP and its alliances. Many activists were reportedly injured, arrested, or prevented from campaigning effectively. This cycle also featured reported intimidation of opposition figures and arrests.

Much of this violence stems from deep political polarisation (between major parties like the Bangladesh ist Party and Awami League historically). This election, with newer allies like the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami in the fray, the Bangladesh election is being seen as more polarised and violent than the recent previous elections.

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