Bangladesh monitor links BNP and allies to largest share of 2026 election violence

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party and its allies were linked to the largest share of election-related violence monitored before, during, and after Bangladesh’s 2026 national election, according to a report by rights organization Odhikar.

The report linked BNP and allied groups to 52% of incidents before the election, 53% on election day and 75% after the polls. Jamaat and its allies were linked to 15%, 13% and 9%, respectively.

Odhikar described the overall electoral environment as generally peaceful but said localized violence and intimidation persisted. It deployed 50 long-term monitors across 50 constituencies in 22 districts and 50 short-term observers at 480 polling stations.

Odhikar recorded 62 pre-election incidents and 32 on election day. Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Bhola, Mymensingh and Dhaka were identified as hotspots.

Prime minister’s adviser Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said, “Those in BNP who have committed irregularities are facing action from the party. BNP is sparing no one.”