Bangladesh’s 13th parliamentary elections were marred by violence, rigging allegations, crude bomb attacks, and voter intimidation, as opposition parties accused authorities of widespread irregularities and demanded suspension of voting in multiple constituencies across the country.
Bangladesh’s 13th parliamentary elections were overshadowed by widespread allegations of electoral rigging, voter intimidation, and violent incidents across multiple constituencies on Thursday. Reports from local media outlets painted a troubling picture of disruptions, arrests, bomb attacks, and complaints of irregularities that cast doubt over the transparency and fairness of the high-stakes polls.
Serious allegations emerged from various districts, including Tangail, Cumilla, Shariatpur, Patuakhali, Noakhali, Jhalakathi, and Bhola. Opposition parties and political alliances accused rival groups of manipulating votes, distributing money to influence voters, and forcibly removing polling agents from booths.
One of the most prominent incidents involved a Jamaat-e-Islami leader, Zainal Abedin, who was detained and fined for distributing cash during voting hours. The incident occurred in Ranashal village under Gorai Union in Mirzapur Upazila of Tangail District. According to local reports, Abedin was seen handing out money to voters in the morning in an apparent attempt to influence the electoral outcome.
Mobile court magistrate and Assistant Commissioner (Land) of Mirzapur Upazila, Tarek Aziz, confirmed the incident and imposed a fine of 3,000 Bangladeshi Taka on Abedin. The action was taken following complaints from local residents, with leading Bangladeshi daily Prothom Alo reporting that cash distribution took place in a neighborhood of Ranashal village.
Meanwhile, the Jamaat-led 11-party alliance formally lodged complaints with the Election Commission, alleging widespread irregularities at polling centers across several constituencies, including Cumilla-8, Shariatpur-2, and Patuakhali-1. The alliance demanded immediate suspension of voting in affected areas, citing what they described as systematic electoral manipulation.
A delegation from the alliance met Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin at the Nirbachan Bhaban in Dhaka. They submitted a written complaint accompanied by links to over one hundred video recordings that they claimed served as evidence of malpractice and violence at polling stations.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Jamaat-e-Islami Assistant Secretary General Moazzem Hossain Helal alleged widespread misconduct but refrained from specifying the exact number of polling centers impacted. According to The Daily Star, Helal described incidents of “bloody violence” in the Noakhali-6 constituency on Wednesday night, even before voting officially commenced.
Additional disturbances were reported in Jhalakathi and Shariatpur, where Jamaat party workers were allegedly driven away from polling stations by rival groups. Observers noted that tensions escalated rapidly throughout the day, reflecting a deteriorating security environment in several districts.
In Bhola-1 (Sadar) constituency, miscreants reportedly detonated crude bombs and snatched ballot papers at the Alinagar School and College polling center in Sadar Upazila. The attack forced authorities to suspend voting for nearly one and a half hours. According to Presiding Officer Omar Faruk, a group of individuals entered the polling center shortly after the explosions, assaulted election officials, and seized 56 ballot papers. Reports further indicated that 76 ballot papers were fraudulently stamped during the chaos.
The United News of Bangladesh (UNB) reported that police later arrested a Jamaat worker in connection with the incident. However, the sequence of events and responsibility for the violence remain under investigation.
Tragically, violence during the voting process led to the death of a political leader in one of the affected constituencies, though detailed information regarding the circumstances was still emerging at the time of reporting. Clashes erupted at multiple polling booths nationwide as voters queued to cast their ballots, highlighting the fragile law and order situation surrounding the elections.
Polling had begun early Thursday morning amid tight security arrangements, but incidents of unrest quickly surfaced. Reports of intimidation, forced eviction of polling agents, ballot snatching, and bomb blasts raised serious concerns about the credibility of the electoral process.
| Also Read: B’desh faces turmoil over disputed 13th Parliamentary Election |
As voting concluded, Bangladesh’s parliamentary elections ended against a backdrop of escalating political tension and violence. Several opposition parties reiterated their concerns over the fairness and transparency of the polls, urging the Election Commission to conduct thorough investigations into the reported irregularities.
The outcome of the elections is expected to have significant political implications for Bangladesh, but the shadow cast by violence and allegations of rigging is likely to fuel continued debate over the integrity of the democratic process in the country.
