Nature of attack on Hadi different, concerns over law and order during elections

A day after the schedule for the national election was announced, a shooting incident targeting a possible candidate in broad daylight in the capital has once again created anxiety about the law and order situation during the election period.

Political parties say this has raised concerns about overall election security. They insist that the government and the Election Commission must ensure that no one can obstruct the election by creating such incidents.

Political parties believe that the way Sharif Osman Hadi, a possible independent candidate from the Dhaka-8 constituency and the convener of Inqilab Moncho, was targeted and shot cannot be viewed as an ordinary incident. This is an ominous signal for a fair election. It will damage the environment for a credible vote and spread fear among the people.

Sources in the law enforcement agencies say that shootings have occurred in Chattogram and Pabna during election-related public campaigns. However, the nature of the attack on Osman Hadi is being considered different.

On 5 November, BNP-nominated candidate for Chattogram-8 (Boalkhali–Chandgaon–Bayezid) constituency and the party’s metropolitan convener, Ershad Ullah, was shot while conducting public campaign. One person was killed in that incident, and two others were injured. Later, on 27 November, attacks, gunfire, and clashes took place surrounding the public campaign of Jamaat’s candidate and district ameer, Abu Taleb Mandal, in Pabna-4 (Ishwardi–Atgharia) constituency.

In the cases of the Chattogram and Pabna incidents, various calculations linked to local politics and divisions within criminal networks may have played a role, according to sources. However, in the case of the shooting of Osman Hadi, the sources concerned believe it may have been an attempt to obstruct the election.

Several senior officials of the law enforcement agencies told Prothom Alo that one group had long been threatening that elections would not be allowed to take place. They had also declared that voting would be resisted if elections were held without them. This incident may have occurred as part of that effort.

The interim government is also viewing the incident as an attempt to obstruct the election. In a statement yesterday, Friday, Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus said, “Any kind of violence aimed at obstructing the election will not be tolerated. Ensuring the security of the people and the free movement of candidates is our responsibility. Whoever the perpetrators are, they will be brought under the law.”

The Chief Adviser also called on all political parties, their activists and supporters, and citizens to maintain peace and restraint so that the upcoming election can be held in a peaceful, participatory, and secure environment.

More to follow…