As Bangladesh inches closer to its national election, an invisible yet potent force is reshaping the political landscape of Chattogram – fear. Rooted not only in overt violence but also in the quiet resurgence of underworld influence, this fear is steadily eroding the democratic process.
Beneath official campaign slogans and repeated assurances of security, a deep sense of anxiety has gripped candidates, party activists, and ordinary voters alike.
In key constituencies such as Raozan and Fatikchhari, the atmosphere has grown so tense that the election – traditionally a vibrant and contested exercise – now feels muted, restrained, and gloomy.
Raozan, once politically charged but participatory, now resembles a volatile battleground more than a constituency. At least 18 people have been killed there in recent months, and most of these killings are connected to the fight for underworld dominance and political rivalries.
The bloodshed has underscored a near-total breakdown of normal political life, with fear choking debate and intimidation replacing mobilisation.
In nearby Fatikchhari, the situation is equally alarming. The recent killing of Jane Alam, a known Jamaat-e-Islami activist, has deepened local unease.
Residents and administration officials describe the murder as potentially linked to renewed underworld activity – an unsettling reminder of how criminal networks continue to intersect with politics.
Political leaders across party lines now admit that the situation is deeply concerning.
Nurul Amin, general secretary of Jamaat-e-Islami’s Chattogram City Unit and a candidate in Fatikchhari, said nearly all criminal activities at this time are undeniably linked to political interests and the election process, from extortion to other forms of wrongdoing.
He warned that violence, intimidation, and criminal patronage are erecting what he called a “silent barrier” to democratic participation.
According to Nurul Amin, the pattern of recent attacks suggests not spontaneous crime but a calculated attempt to shape the election environment through terror and muscle power rather than popular support.
At the grassroots, the anxiety is palpable. Resident Taskin, a college student, and local youth activist Bappi describe Raozan as a constituency under constant tension. Once-vibrant neighbourhoods now fall eerily silent after dusk.
“People are scared to host meetings or even discuss politics openly,” Taskin said. “Everyone is asking the same question – who will be next?”
The fear is not abstract. Over the past two months, Chattogram has witnessed a disturbing wave of violent incidents that has badly shaken public confidence in law and order. The murder of Sarwar Babla sent shockwaves through both political and business circles.
Babla, widely known as a politically connected figure facing multiple murder and extortion cases, was considered powerful and well protected. His killing exposed how vulnerable even influential actors have become in the current climate.
Raozan’s string of murders has further cemented its reputation as one of Chattogram’s most volatile zones, effectively erasing the space for normal political competition. In Fatikchhari, the violence has taken on an added criminal dimension.
The killing of Jamaat workers has intensified inter-party mistrust, while Jamaat leaders allege targeted attacks aimed at driving their supporters out of the electoral field. BNP leaders, meanwhile, say their activists are operating under constant threat, turning political participation into a personal gamble with life.
Sarwar Alamgir, BNP’s candidate in Fatikchhari, told TIMES of Bangladesh that an old, Jamaat-backed underworld group has reactivated in the area, allegedly behind several recent murders linked to disputes over money and territorial control.
According to him, the revival of these criminal networks – once thought dormant – has dangerously blurred the line between politics and organised crime.
“These are not isolated incidents,” he said. “This is underworld muscle re-entering politics, and it is poisoning the election environment.”
Chattogram Range Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Ahsan Habib Palash said police and intelligence agencies have increased surveillance, conducted targeted raids, and strengthened patrols in vulnerable areas.
“Every incident is being taken seriously, and we are committed to ensuring that voters can exercise their rights safely,” he said. However, he acknowledged that restoring public confidence is as crucial as making arrests.
This underground fear, fuelled by criminal networks and political patronage, is more dangerous than open confrontation.
Unlike visible street clashes, it quietly suppresses voter turnout, discourages opposition activity, and distorts the democratic process without drawing immediate national attention. Voters may stay home not out of apathy, but out of fear of retaliation.
Unless the administration moves swiftly to dismantle underworld networks, rein in violence, and restore confidence, Chattogram risks heading into an election where silence speaks louder than ballots – and fear, not choice, determines the outcome.
