The murder of Sharif Osman Hadi, spokesperson of Inqilab Mancha, a leading figure of the July uprising, and a potential independent candidate from Dhaka-8—along with a series of violent incidents across the country, signals a coordinated attempt by domestic and foreign hostile forces to sabotage the upcoming national parliamentary election. These developments pose a serious threat to national security. Recognizing the gravity of the situation, the government has rightly treated these incidents not as isolated crimes but as a broader security challenge, strengthening law enforcement activities nationwide.
The outbreak of violence immediately after the announcement of the schedule for the 13th National Parliamentary Election underscores the fragile state of national security. The attacks that have followed are not random or spontaneous; they reflect deliberate actions by anti-state elements seeking to spread fear, instability, and division during a critical democratic moment. This constitutes a major warning for the stability of the post-uprising state. Responsibility for this crisis lies not only with violent groups but also with political parties that were partners in the uprising, whose narrow, interest-driven decisions have deepened political polarization. At a time when there was a historic opportunity to dismantle the old authoritarian structure and build a new, inclusive, anti-fascist state, political actors instead chose confrontation over cooperation, lacking a long-term vision for national reconstruction.
Persistent disunity and relentless political rivalry have created an uncertain and conflict-prone environment, emboldening violent and anarchic forces. The erosion of communication among the forces of the mass uprising has sown deep divisions in public consciousness. Consequently, election-related violence can no longer be dismissed as mere “party clashes.” By undermining the environment necessary for free and fair voting, such violence directly attacks citizens’ constitutional right to participate in governance—an alarming reminder of the fascist past. The current unrest must therefore be understood as an assault on the country’s democratic transformation.
To overcome the growing national security risks surrounding the election, political parties must reach at least a minimum moral and political consensus. They must unequivocally reject violence, recognize each other’s political legitimacy, and accept electoral competition as a democratic process rather than a form of enmity. Ensuring the security of political activists is a fundamental responsibility of the state, and in enforcing law and order, the political identity of perpetrators must not shield them from justice. Attacks on political activities are direct assaults on voting rights.
The reality is that internal divisions among the forces born of the uprising, combined with a lack of farsighted planning, are encouraging dormant subversive elements to re-emerge through violence. At this critical juncture, unity among political forces is not a matter of expediency but an urgent national duty essential to safeguarding security and preserving the democratic transition.
