TIB reports BNP involvement in majority of political violence over past 1.5 years

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has reported that the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) was involved in 550 of the 600 incidents of political violence recorded during the one and a half years of the interim government.

The findings were revealed on Monday at a press conference at Midas Centre in Dhaka’s Dhanmondi. 

The event was organised to present a study examining what people had expected after the fall of the previous “authoritarian government” and what they actually received.

On political parties, the Bangladesh chapter of the global anti-graft watchdog stated that “internal conflicts and violence among various political parties continue”.

Over 17 months between August 2024 and December 2025, 600 incidents of political violence were recorded, the study assessed, adding that 158 political activists were killed and 7,082 were injured in the incidents.

Of these incidents, the BNP was involved in 550 cases, accounting for 91.9 percent of the incidents. 

The Awami League was involved in 124 incidents, which represent 20.7 percent of all incidents, while the Jamaat-e-Islami was linked to 46 incidents, which account for 7.7 percent of the overall incidents.

The report said violence followed attempts to take control of institutions and activities previously dominated by the Awami League.

TIB blamed the unrest on weak internal party discipline and the failure to act against activists involved in such activities.

At least 15 political leaders and activists were killed nationwide within 36 days after the election schedule was announced, according to the transparency watchdog.

In 2025 alone, 102 people were killed in 401 incidents of political violence.

TIB said that the 1,333 weapons looted from law-enforcing agencies and still unaccounted for pose serious risks to the election environment.

The anti-corruption organisation raised alarm over the growing threat of “deepfakes and misinformation”. It also listed 50 attacks on minorities as causes for concern.

“There is concern that the risk of violence may increase due to the large number of looted weapons remaining unrecovered and the government’s move to issue new licences for political figures,” said TIB.

The anti-graft body noted that law enforcers accounted for only about 10 percent of all election-time deployments, calling it a “major deficiency” in ensuring election security.

Polling centres announced in 12,531 government primary schools are not fit for holding elections, TIB said. 

The organisation also observed that many of 73 election observers do not have the capacity to perform the task they are selected for.

TIB says the prevalence of mobs and the government’s failure and inaction to contain them threaten to deteriorate the law and order situation ahead of or during the polls. 

The organisation also questioned the role of police in containing unrest, accusing the law enforcers of discrimination.

Following the presentation of the research findings, TIB Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman said the interim government performed poorly in maintaining law and order.

“The misuse of money, muscle power, and religion is evident. As a result, the extent to which elections will be genuinely competitive and fair remains to be seen,” he said.