Although the country’s political scenario commonly sees opposition activists being repressed and victimised by ruling party supporters, the pattern of political violence seems to be changing as most of the victims over the last few months had been activists of Awami League.
According to media reports from the last two months, at least 39 political killings took place in the country. Among the deceased, 24 people belonged to the Awami League or its associate bodies, while only seven victims belonged to the BNP or the Jamaat. The rest of the victims belonged to different political parties including the JSD, the CPB, and the UPDF.
Ruling party leaders have said such incidents were “unexpected,” but claimed that some “intruders” who have infiltrated the Awami League were carrying out the killings to spoil the party’s image.
There are allegations that most of the political killings including the much-talked-about murders of Narayanganj panel mayor Nazrul Islam and Feni’s Fulgazi upazila chairman Ekramul Haque were results of internal clashes of the party. Sources within the Awami League also said most of the attacks took place to establish dominance.
On the other hand, records between January and March suggest that BNP-Jamaat activists were more frequently attacked than ruling party leaders at the start of this year compared to now.
According to rights body Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK), majority of the victims of political killing during the first three months of the year belonged to opposition parties. Among the 60 political activists who were killed in separate incidents between January and March, including in alleged “gunfights” with law enforcers, 38 people were BNP-Jamaat activists, while 21 belonged to the Awami League.
Political violence also claimed the lives of 27 civilians and three law enforcers during the time, according to the ASK.
Asked about the issue, Awami League Presidium Member Nuh-Ul Alam Lenin admitted that many of the victims belonged to their party, adding: “We are embarrassed for the unexpected incidents.”
He added that some ruling party activists might be involved with such violence because of personal vendetta.
Expressing the party’s stance against the culprits, the leader said: “The prime minister has a strong stance against the recent killings that are spoiling our image. She will take necessary action, irrespective of whether the culprits are party men or not.”
On the other hand, party Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif claimed: “After the January 5 poll, frustrated BNP-Jamaat activists had joined our party through different channels and these intruders have been carrying out such violence.”
He, however, admitted that some incidents have been the result of the party’s internal clash.
Hanif said they were identifying the “intruders” who were damaging the party’s reputation and that “they [intruders] will face legal actions even if they are influential.”
Earlier, in a joint meeting of the party on June 2, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, also the Awami League president, said the situation would be brought under control after the budget session.
