Intelligence agencies are warning of a sharp rise in violent crimes, including targeted killings and politically driven attacks, in the weeks leading up to the national election. Law enforcement officials say recent incidents across the country appear to be early indicators of pre-election unrest, prompting heightened vigilance.
In Dhaka on Wednesday, Azizur Rahman Muchabbir, former general secretary of Dhaka City North Swechchhasebak Dal, the volunteer wing of the BNP, was shot near the Super Star Hotel in Karwan Bazar around 8:30 pm. The killing is one of several violent acts reported in the first week of January. On December 31, businessman Khokon Chandra Das was hacked and set on fire in Shariatpur. On January 3, Alamgir Hossain, a BNP leader, was shot dead in Jashore, followed by the killing of ice factory owner Rana Pratap Bairagi and grocery shop owner Moni Chakraborty in Jashore and Narsingdi on January 5. Former Jubo Dal leader Jane Alam Sikder was shot in Chattogram's Raozan upazila, while trader Md Shahabuddin was hacked to death in Dhaka's Kadamtali area on January 6.
In total, at least eight people have been killed in violent incidents in the first six days of January.
Police sources say the government's primary mandate is to hold a free, fair, and acceptable election, and there may be attempts to derail or discredit the process. A senior DMP official, speaking on condition of anonymity, warned that communal incitement and rumour campaigns could intensify before the polls, and political rallies carry an elevated risk of clashes, prompting intelligence deployment at every event.
Officials note that targeted violence typically rises as political tensions mount before elections. Crude bombs are sometimes used to send political signals or create pressure without causing large-scale damage. The circulation of firearms remains a major concern, with 1,333 police and 27 prison firearms stolen during the 2024 uprising still missing. Among hundreds of convicts who escaped at that time, 710 remain at large, including individuals accused of serious crimes.
Police statistics show 197 people were killed by mobs and 102 victims fell to political murders in 2025. Efforts such as the widely publicised "Operation Devil Hunt," which arrested around 27,229 individuals in two phases, have failed to curb violence.
Experts say the upcoming election on February 12 will be overshadowed by security risks unless the government ensures non-partisan and effective law enforcement. Drives must focus on actual criminals, investigations into recent killings must be rigorous, and perpetrators brought to justice regardless of political ties.
