The country’s fragile calm was shattered on Wednesday when violence struck Chattogram — hours after the government claimed there was no security threat centring the forthcoming national election.
Home Adviser Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, a retired army general, had told reporters in Gazipur that law enforcement had been directed to ensure a peaceful election in February. But before the day ended, gunmen stormed an election outreach event of BNP’s MP candidate for the Chattogram-8 constituency, Ershad Ullah, injuring him and a local leader and killing party activist Sarwar Hossain Babla.
The attack, coming barely a day after BNP released its list of 237 parliamentary candidates, instantly nullified the adviser’s assurance and sent shockwaves through the political class.
A brutal reality check
A visibly shaken BNP condemned the killing and demanded swift arrests, while one local leader blamed Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing Shibir — an allegation Jamaat promptly denied. The interim government, led by Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus, issued a late-night statement condemning the attack and promising an investigation.
Yet, for many, such statements ring hollow. The government’s 15-month record on law and order offers little comfort. Rights groups, civic leaders and ordinary citizens have repeatedly warned of a deteriorating situation, but the administration’s measures appear neither decisive nor effective.
A pattern too familiar
Chattogram has long been a flashpoint for political bloodshed. A TIMES of Bangladesh investigation published on October 29 shows that dozens have been murdered there over the past 15 months in BNP’s factional feuds.
Jamaat infighting also claimed a couple of lives. Despite this history, authorities failed to tighten security after BNP’s candidate announcement — an omission that can be called utterly irresponsible.
If the Chattogram assault marks the start of a new wave of election-season violence, it would expose not just negligence but also the erosion of state authority. For a government that promised stability after the fall of the Awami League, that would be a devastating indictment.
Some within the government and law enforcement may argue that the slain activist, Babla, had a violent past and that the attack targeted him as part of a rivalry between local gangs rather than an assault on candidate Ershad Ullah. Even if that were true, it remains the duty of law enforcement to keep such elements off the streets and prevent any violence that could undermine public security.
Why the criminals walk free
The deeper question haunting the public is why, despite the military’s presence on the ground with magistracy powers, criminals continue to operate with impunity.
Systemic weaknesses are often blamed — a demoralised, partially functional police force and an inefficient bureaucracy still recovering from 16 years of politicisation. But the problem seems to lie in the government’s unwillingness to let law enforcement act without fear or favour.
According to a TIMES of Bangladesh report on November 3, the chiefs of the army, navy and air force recently assured the chief adviser they could restore order quickly if allowed to operate impartially. If that is true, the administration’s hesitation to unleash the full strength of the forces is baffling. It can be seen as either political caution or a lack of confidence in its own command structure.
The cost of inaction
That reluctance has come at a price. Criminals — emboldened by weak enforcement — now sense opportunity. Each unchecked attack chips away at public trust and encourages further lawlessness. The perception that political considerations outweigh justice has bred frustration among citizens who fear a violent campaign season ahead.
Fifteen months is long enough for any government to show results. The Yunus administration cannot indefinitely cite the failures of its predecessor. It must now deliver on its own promises of neutrality and order — or risk presiding over chaos.
Nation holds its breath
People are watching anxiously to see whether Wednesday’s attack was an isolated tragedy or the opening act of a darker chapter. The coming weeks will test the interim government’s credibility more than any previous challenge.
The administration must act decisively — empower the military and police to pursue perpetrators without political interference, enforce the law with impartiality, and reassure voters that violence will not dictate the election outcome.
If it fails, a catastrophic campaign season could unfold — something no peace-loving citizen wishes even in their worst nightmare.
