Political violence rose at an alarming rate in 2025: TIB

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has reported that incidents of political violence increased at an alarming rate across the country in 2025. According to a TIB report, at least 102 people were killed in a total of 401 incidents of political violence last year. During the same period, 1,333 firearms went missing.

The report, presented in Dhaka on Monday, also noted that at least 15 political leaders and activists were killed within just 36 days of the announcement of the schedule for the thirteenth parliamentary election.

The report warned that the failure to recover a huge number of weapons looted from police stations, coupled with the fresh issuance of gun licences to political figures, has increased the risk of violence. It also raised concerns over the security apparatus, noting that police comprise only 9 to 10 per cent of the total election duty force.

Other key concerns highlighted in the report included: over 50 attacks on minorities in 2025, threats from deepfakes and misinformation, questions about the neutrality of field administration, 27 writ petitions filed over the demarcation of 46 constituencies, and about 12,531 primary schools being unsuitable as polling centres.

The report also pointed to deficiencies in the Election Commission's capacity to verify affidavit information and its effective enforcement of the code of conduct, despite violations by all major parties. It concluded that major reforms in technology, law, and procedure are needed for both the election and referendum.