Tensions are boiling over in Bangladesh as election season turns deadly. Gunmen ambushed a campaign rally in the Rohingya camps of Cox’s Bazar’s Teknaf on Thursday evening, wounding five, one a young child. The shooting occurred at 8:30 PM in Ali Khali Camp-25, Block A/04, as reported by Dhaka Tribune citing police confirmation.
The victims included two Rohingya and three locals, caught off-guard while crowding around a truck blaring election slogans. This incident underscores a dangerous pattern of pre-poll aggression in the lead-up to February 12 voting.
Rights watchdog Ain o Salish Kendra’s latest data paints a grim picture: January saw 75 violent episodes versus December’s 18, with casualties skyrocketing from 268 injured and 4 dead to 616 hurt and 11 fatalities. The spike correlates directly with campaign launches post-January 22, peaking in late January with 49 clashes, 4 deaths, and 414 injuries.
Media workers face growing threats too, enduring 16 assaults in January compared to 11 the prior month. In response, ASK implores rival parties to dial back hostilities and appeals to authorities for robust security measures to safeguard voters’ rights.
With Bangladesh’s elections looming, this refugee-area shooting highlights vulnerabilities in volatile border zones, raising fears of broader instability if unchecked.